Utility player Chris Taylor (35), who was released from the Los Angeles Dodgers, has found new employment with the neighboring Los Angeles Angels. Leaving the Dodgers, where he spent 10 years, brought him to tears, but he suppresses his feelings of sadness and embarks on a new beginning.
Taylor signed with the Angels on the 27th (Korea Standard Time) and immediately was named in the starting lineup as the eighth hitter and center fielder for a home game against the New York Yankees. After being released by the Dodgers on the 19th, he found a new team and donned the Angels' red uniform just 8 days later. In his first game, he went 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts, and his season batting average dropped to .184 (7 hits in 38 at-bats).
According to local media including The Athletic, before the game, Taylor noted of the moment he was released by the Dodgers, "It was an emotional moment. I spent 9 years with the Dodgers, and I thought it was time. It's time to start fresh and turn the page. I'm glad to be able to do that with the Angels."
Taylor blossomed after being traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Dodgers in July 2016. In 2017, he hit 21 home runs, awakening his batting skills, and filled every position needed as a utility player, toggling between the infield and outfield. In 2021, he was also selected for his first All-Star game and had his best moment with a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning of a Wild Card matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
After finishing that season, he signed a four-year, $60 million free agent contract with the Dodgers. However, his performance fell below expectations, and he has shown a rapid decline since last year. This year, he has a batting average of .200 (7 hits in 35 at-bats) with no home runs and 2 RBIs, hitting rock bottom with an OPS of .457. On the 4th, after Tommy Edman's ankle injury led to the major league call-up of Hyeseong Kim, who adapted unexpectedly well, the Dodgers made a decision. When Edman returned from the injured list, they chose to keep Kim on the roster and release Taylor.
It was an unexpected decision. With a salary of $13 million this year and a $12 million team option for next year—or a $4 million buyout if declined—Taylor was sent off less than halfway through the season, despite having $17 million left on his contract. Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations who brought Taylor in through trade and signed him to the free agent contract nine years ago, said, "He was a player who shared our club's greatest moments, but as a team needing more wins, we had to make a difficult decision."
Taylor said, "I haven't shown the performance I can deliver over the past few seasons. But I still feel I have a lot to prove. I am physically healthy, and since I haven't been in many games, my stamina is in good shape."
Identifying his recent slump not as an aging curve but as an issue with his swing mechanics, Taylor expects to achieve a rebound in hitting with more plate appearances with the Angels. He said, "I didn't have many opportunities to play in the role I was assigned with the Dodgers. I'm really looking forward to being able to consistently be at bat (with the Angels). I'm glad to join an Angels team that is playing good baseball this year."
Angels manager Ron Washington said, "Taylor has the experience we need. He has been through a lot of battles and is a role model for young players on how to navigate the season. He played hard every day with the Dodgers and was part of a winning team. We want that culture." He added, "He will play as a center fielder as well as in the infield. He is a player who can play anywhere."
Kenley Jansen, the Angels' closer who played with Taylor for six years from 2016 to 2021 with the Dodgers, also welcomed Taylor. Jansen said, "Taylor is a really great guy. It's really cool to play with a teammate I've been with for a long time again. I was happy to hear that Taylor was coming to our team," and added, "I hope he gets a chance to show his true worth. He still has the strength to play. If he gets more opportunities to play, it will definitely help us win."
[OSEN]