Dodgers Designate Chris Taylor for Assignment
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made the decision to designate utility player Chris Taylor for assignment, according to recent reports. This move marks the end of Taylor’s time with the team, who had been relegated to a secondary role in recent weeks.
Taylor, who has been part of the Dodgers since 2016, will come off the active roster to make room for another utility player, Tommy Edman, who will be activated from the injured list before the final game of the series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Taylor’s departure comes a few days after the Dodgers cut ties with backup catcher Austin Barnes, to make room for prospect Dalton Rushing. Taylor and Barnes were, along with Clayton Kershaw, the longest-tenured players on the team.
The Dodgers now have seven days to trade or release Taylor. This decision suggests that Hyeseong Kim, the rookie second baseman from South Korea, will remain in the Major Leagues, even after Teoscar Hernandez is activated from the injured list in the coming days. Kim, a left-handed and fast hitter, has performed remarkably since his promotion.
Taylor has participated in few games this season, accumulating a low number of plate appearances. His opportunities to bat became so scarce that the Dodgers, on occasion, asked minor league pitchers to pitch to Taylor so he could see velocity.
Not long ago, Taylor was a key member of the successful Dodgers teams, a clear example of the versatility sought by the management. After struggling with the Seattle Mariners, Taylor was traded to the Dodgers in June 2016, where he changed his swing and transformed his career. Between 2017 and 2023, Taylor had a batting average of .256/.336/.444 and saw action in six different positions.
His best moments came in October. Taylor was co-MVP in the 2017 National League Championship Series. In Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS, Taylor made a crucial catch. In the 2021 playoffs, he hit a home run in the wild card game against the St. Louis Cardinals, and then hit three home runs against the Atlanta Braves in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.
However, Taylor had a slump in the 2024 season, batting .202/.298/.300 in 87 games. As the 2025 season progressed, it became clear that Taylor did not have a defined role on the Dodgers’ roster.
