After the Dodgers cut longtime backup catcher Austin Barnes, Chris Taylor, the team’s longest-serving player (a title he maintained for four full days), has been designated for assignment.
Taylor will be traded, released unconditionally, or claimed by another club within seven days of being designated. In reality, Taylor might choose to play in the minor leagues rather than be cut, although it seems extremely improbable.
However, a new team has been linked to the former Dodgers player after their weakness in left field was revealed during a weekend series.
Will the Padres Consider Getting Chris Taylor?
One of the San Diego Padres’ weaknesses was shown during the weekend series against the Seattle Mariners: left field. Left field is somewhat uncertain as Jackson Merrill returns to center field and Fernando Tatis Jr. holds down right field.
The solution? The Dodgers recently released left fielder Taylor.
Dodgers fans: How would you feel about Chris Taylor potentially joining the Padres after being released by the Dodgers?
Would you want to see him in the NL West?https://t.co/j2ro5LPaZK
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation)
Taylor had a number of significant playoff hits with the Dodgers, including a leadoff homer in the 2017 World Series opener against Houston, three home runs in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series against Atlanta, and a walk-off homer that helped the Dodgers defeat St. Louis in the 2021 NL wild card game.
The Padres’ outfield would undoubtedly benefit from Taylor’s defense, but his offensive stats are alarming. Since his walk-off home run against the St. Louis Cardinals to win the National League Wild Card game in 2021, Taylor, who turns 35 in August, has been worse at the plate.
Taylor also became expendable with the rise of rookie Hyeseong Kim, who reached base in nine straight plate appearances and hit .452 (14 for 31) in his first 14 games following his recall from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Taylor has made 35 plate appearances this season, striking out 13 times. During his final 15 games with the Dodgers, Taylor’s slash line dropped to .167/.167/.250. Taylor signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Dodgers in 2022, and the team owes him $13.4 million.
In the interim, San Diego used Jason Heyward, Gavin Sheets, and Brandon Lockridge as their three left fielders during their most recent series. Prior to the five-time NL Gold Glove winner joining the Padres this summer, Heyward was also released by the Dodgers in August of last season.
With a .184 average and .517 OPS in 31 games, Heyward has swiftly shown the Padres’ front office how foolish their strategy was. Taylor’s chances of genuinely enhancing San Diego’s offense are extremely slim, but it would also be unpleasant to see a player who played for over ten seasons in Los Angeles join their most formidable opponent.