Utilityman Chris Taylor will reject the Dodgers’ one-year, $18.4MM qualifying offer and test the open market, reports Jon Heyman of the MLB Network (Twitter link). The Meister Sports Management client will presumably set out in search of a multi-year pact, be it with the Dodgers or another club.
That’s not at all surprising, since Taylor should be in plenty of demand. Even with draft pick compensation attached, MLBTR placed the 31-year-old sixteenth on this offseason’s list of top free agents, projecting him to land a four-year deal worth $64MM. Taylor’s ability to play essentially any non-catcher position on the diamond should make him a highly coveted player, with teams seeing him as a potential solution for weaknesses on their current roster at various positions.
While Taylor’s best known for his defensive versatility, he pairs that with strong work at the plate. The right-handed hitter strikes out a fair amount, but he also draws walks and hits for power at high clips despite spending his past few years in one of the game’s more pitcher-friendly home parks. By measure of wRC+, Taylor has been an above-average bat in each of the past five seasons. He slowed down in the second half of the 2021 campaign, but Taylor was scorching hot during the postseason to hit free agency on a high note.
If Taylor doesn’t re-sign with the Dodgers, they’ll stand to receive a compensatory draft choice. As a team that exceeded the luxury tax threshold in 2021, they’ll only add a pick after the end of the fourth round. Teams that sign Taylor (or any other qualified free agent), will surrender draft and potentially international signing bonus capital, with the extent of the forfeiture dependent on the signing club’s market size. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes broke down which picks each team would forfeit last month.
Definitely can see Mariners signing both Bryant and Taylor this off season to bolster their infield.
No chance.
I could see it.
To be fair, once a team signs one player with a QO attached, they have an advantage over other teams as there is less to lose from signing another. So if the Mariners have the money to sign Bryant, they may still be seeking another big FA after him.
Tell me more.
but Bryant didn’t receive a QO
Totally. Easily, in fact.
I can help you find an optometrist.
Ha ha ha, very funny. Why are the Mariners not a feasible landing spot for these two fine ball players? Plenty of rumblings have them as being highly valued targets of the Mariners, perhaps so much so that they are willing to overpay to get the players they covet.
Any single team landing two of the top free agents in a single offseason is unlikely.
The only reason some speculate the Mariners will pass on CT is because they are the ones who let him go to the Dodgers for almost nothing in return. So he would be a constant reminder of a past mistake. But CT is a great fit for the Mariners so I think they will get over that. Mariners are second only to Dodgers as my most likely outcome for him.
I think the Mariners have too many needs for that. I can see it but seems very unlikely they’d be top bidders on both players.
They definitely need 2 good hitters. Ideally at least one OF’er and one Infielder. They need 2 SP’s… but other than that it looks like they have a pretty good young core of versatile position players and prospects.
The mariners is going to do shift like always
Hey man, Seattle aren’t the only ones doing shift. Defensive shifts have become very common among today’s style of baseball. Too common in fact, redundant even.
I definitely can see Kris Bryant staying on the west coast. The Mariners are the best fit. The Padres would would too but they’d have to somehow trade Hosmer and maybe Wil Myers. I won’t see him going to SD though. Their brown and yellow uniforms are horrible. They need to go back to the navy. Maybe even the jerseys that Tony Gwynn wore. In his later years.
What a dumb take.
Wise man. Soon to be a. wealthy man.
You forgot healthy, Ben.
But he will get lots of Franklins.
Just like E-Rod didn’t get 18 million a season this guy has no chance, I would of taken that one year deal as a utility player.
True. I guess he’s looking for a multi-year deal with less AAV.
Maybe he wants to play for a different team instead of playing for money
Where is Mr LOL when we need him?
So 1 yr 18million, where injury may be around the corner
vs
potentially a 5yr @65million guaranteed…..where injury may still be around the corner…..
I know where my choice would land
Rodriguez did better over the long term. So will Taylor. They don’t have to average $18.4 million a season. Btw, Taylor is more than just a utility player. The market for his services is likely filled with playoff-caliber teams who understand his total value.
Might not get 18 million, but he’ll likely get a four or five year deal that locks him into far more. Yes he could have played it year to year, but chances are good if he did that he’ll make less in the end. Never know when a injury or poor performance will all but end your career. Utility player should get his money when the getting is good.
Take Chris Davis for instance. If he took the QO Baltimore would have been thrilled because his career all but fell off a cliff by 2017.
that’s not the way the business works, guys usually get a lower AAV and more years, he will probably be asking for a 5 year or so deal which will put him at age 36-37. tell me if he accepts the qo and is looking next year do you think he will get the same overall contract value a year older, probably not he will lose on it because teams will be offering more like a 3 year contract. add to that that he is coming off success so his stock is high, if he has an injury or down year he competes for a lower contract still.
4/60 > 1/18
So you didn’t see what E-rod got? Well this utility guy is definitely going to get probably a 4 year deal around 60 million! That’s not better than 1 year 18 million?
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not. If he plays 2022 @ 18.4m, he’d need to sign a contract for 3/41.6m (13.87m/yr) after 2022. I said something similar in the ERod thread, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if he were still able to at least break even and get 3/41.6 after this year. I can certainly understand the safety in a longer guarantee, but I don’t think it’s necessarily a given that it’d be better for him.
$77M/5 is much better than just going year-by-year. You’d have to get a QO 5 consecutive years to make up that money.
18.4 x 5 = 92. It’d be closer to 4 years to make up that money than 5. I think it’d probably be less likely with ERod than the 4 year contract above mentioned for Taylor, but I could see ERod beating the money taking the QO this year then going into free agency, or maybe even signing a couple 1 year deals, depending on how much $ he got the next year. I can understand wanting the security of guaranteed money for both of these guys though.
Chris Taylor will get no less than four years 52 million and maybe four years 64 million. So an AAV of 13 to 16, but I think that it a very reasonable choice over the QO.
Did you say Seattle? Lol lol lol
Hey why not?
Because they gave up on him, and he blossomed after being traded from there to LAD
The Mariners have re-acquired plenty of players they have “given up on” over the years. Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, Juan Then, are a couple right off the top of my head. Willie Bloomquist is another from several years ago. Ichiro, Griffey were traded and reacquired also. .. albeit that’s a different sort of deal.
MasterCal, So, what does that have to do with any of this?
I understand and completely agree that it is a real factor, but not the whole enchilada.
Less AAV in exchange for a multi year deal is definitely the wise choice
Dude, look at his home away splits. Seems odd to be much better at home in a pitchers park. Especially in a division w Col and Arizona.
I’d really like Taylor for the Phillies.
I concur. Taylors are always great for them.
Have to love the screen name Captain Dunsel 🙂
Thank you for paying me the Ultimate compliment. I am glad you think my comments compute.
@VonPurpleHayes, an ideal fit for a team like the Phillies that’s trying to fill multiple holes.
His versatility would definitely be welcome.
Just because he declined the QO does not mean he’s not on the dodgers roster next year. I think the Dodgers will sign him to a multi year deal. Needed to protect from not getting a draft pick if he signs elsewhere.
at his age i doubt it. dodgers will likely max a 3 year offer, he prolly is looking for a 5 year contract to retire on and not to hit FA in his mid 30s
They need to change some rules. No way the Mets should be losing 14th picks. And then don’t even get it back for conforto.
they lose the 2nd highest pick for a QO, there are plenty of teams that wont pick till after them
They would still lose a 1st round while others lose a 2nd
All rules should be changed to make the Mets relevant.
RFA’s in MLB so teams losing a guy gets more Draft Picks and all Free-Agents who weren’t Trade in season get QO.
I like him for the Giants!
i do but not with the QO
Seattle’s starting 2B.
This news is tough for me as a Dodger fan, though understandable for both sides. Taylor is a quality player who has earned an opportunity to test the open market. Good for him. You can bet there will be several playoff contenders vying for his services. These teams will want their version of Keekay, albeit for more money. The two caveats with Taylor are that he’s 31 and has a high strikeout rate that might age poorly.
From a Dodgers standpoint, this offseason is about retooling and getting the payroll in order while remaining in the championship mix. It’s a challenge, but the future remains bright. In any event, it figures to be an intriguing off-season.
Of all the Dodgers’ free agents Taylor is the ONE that I think they have to re-sign. Half the AAV of what Seager will cost, and manages to stay on the field all over the field. His versatility defensively is extremely valuable and he comes up clutch with the bat time and again.
GET IT DONE. Andrew!
@empirejim, I love what Taylor contributed but am okay with him moving on. Let the entire off-season play out and see what AF comes up with. There are other players out there and the Dodgers have enough trading capital to swing a deal or two. The team will be fine.
@ CeyHey I think Andrew may take all the free agents and use that as an opportunity to reset the luxury tax. I get that it has to be done. But depending on Bauer’s outcome the Dodgers may be able to keep Taylor and field a pretty solid team. If Bauer remains on the books the Dodgers would presumably be near the limit and thus limit their options if this is the reset season. AF has proved himself as far as I’m concerned.
@empirejim, With the exception of this past season, AF has been excellent at managing the payroll. It’s somewhat logical he would want to reset it. We shall see. Yes, the Bauer outcome will be crucial. If he was off the books, the team could possibly pursue what might be perceived as an upgrade on Taylor. It looks like that won’t be happening. My biggest wish is to maintain an elite pitching staff. If they do that, they’ll always be in the mix. I’d love to see them swing a trade for Castillo.
As a Dodger fan, it’s weird going into an off-season with so much uncertainty. I trust in AF and his desire to have a team that consistently competes for championships. It’s going to be an interesting winter. In the meantime, I’m encouraged by everything I’ve read about the next wave of Dodgers prospects. Fingers crossed a few of them pan out.
Feels like Lux was being groomed EOY to be Taylor 2.0
Yes, absolutely. The results were not 100% encouraging but probably good enough for the Dodgers to let Taylor go, in the same way as they let Hernandez walk in favor of McKinstry.
Ok, Seager is pricy, but if you can get him at market rate, it may still be less than Trea. I think Dodgers will keep Taylor if Scherzer walks otherwise they may not have the money. If there is a DH, I like keeping Trea, Seager and CT and taking a pass on Max.
Daaaamn alot of meeeeh ball players about to get paid some good money. Eduardo and Taylor are the exact type of players I would not want to be paying top dollar for. There’s a reason 2 of the top organizations are letting them walk.
What makes Taylor a “meh” player to you?
Huh? Both players contributed significantly to teams that won the World Series and have otherwise remained in the championship mix. Try watching some baseball before resorting to an overused hip word like “meh” to describe them.
@ LaFlama Yeah, there’s a reason. It’s called free agency and it’s not up to the teams. I’d expect even a fringe baseball fan to know that, but then labeling Taylor as “meeeeh” kind of shows your lack of judgement.
If 60-80 million dollar contracts are considered top dollar to you, you must be a tampa or Oakland fan.
They are both valuable players who will make the appropriate amount in free agency. They both completed their necessary 6 years of service time in which they were under paid and no get to pick the place they want to pay and negotiate a fair contract. Period the end
He won’t be getting top dollar.
He’ll be getting bottom or middle dollars, which strangely enough are worth exactly the same as top dollars.
I don’t think he or his agents are expecting that. They’re aiming for a multi-year deal that will pay more than the QO, which shouldn’t be hard to come by.
Flama 15 MM AAV is not top dollar in today’s baseball
The Yankees could do worse than to sign Taylor to share center field duties with Gallo and Judge, unless they spend for 33-year-old Marte or trade for Reynolds. I’m assuming they’ll never give Florial a chance despite his success in his demitasse with the big club.
And now the NY Yankees 2022 SS, Chris Taylor!
The next team that signs him wouldn’t even lose a high draft pick. He’ll get what he deserves and then some. So versatile.
Everyone who insisted that Taylor would never get a QO, and would accept one in a heartbeat if he did, is here to confess their error. Somewhere over the rainbow…
Blue birds fly…
Birds fly over the rainbow…
Why oh why can’t I?
The Dodgers must keep Taylor for his versatility and because he bats right-handed. The Dodgers have been a left-handed heavy squad for the past several years, and with Justin Turner and AJ Pollock usually going on the IL each season (nothing against them, but we have to be realisitic), Taylor is a necessity.
My predictions for the Dodgers 2021 free agents:
Danny Duffy only returns on a minor league deal,
Shane Greene is gone.
Cole Hamels is gone.
Kenley Jansen decides to return only after taking less money than he is offered elsewhere in order to remain a career-long Dodger.
Joe Kelly returns at a lower price.
Clayton Kershaw eventually returns afrer the severity of his injury is determined, If it is really bad, I think he retires. Kershaw may not decide to sign until Spring Training or even deep into the season just like Roger Clemens once did.
Corey Knebel returns.
Jimmy Nelson probably decides to stay at a lower rate than he might be offered elsewhere.
Albert Pujols returns only if the NL adopts the DH. Otherwise, he could return if he decides not to go back to St. Louis for a last hurrah and he is willing to accept a low contract offer from the Dodgers.
Max Scherzer only stays if it is to keep him away from SF or SD. If he is offered a deal out of the division, I think they let him go.
Corey Seager is gone.
Chris Taylor is gone if he is offered a whole lot of money from a contender, but it is my hope that the Dodgers find a way to keep him.
McKinstry did not come close to replacing Hernandez and Lux would not come close to replacing Taylor. The Dodgers know this.
I made these predictions with the belief that Bauer will be suspended by MLB and the money owed to him is freed up to help sign these players. While I would like to think the Dodgers could get Castillo and/or Gray, I think they are more likely to wait for Miller. Knack and Pepiot to mature rather than trade any of them, especially Miller.. Miller is probably going to be ready sometime next season. In the meantime, they will go with Buehler, Urias, Gonsolin, Heaney, and White/Jackson with the possibilities of Kershaw and Scherzer out there. Remember, May will be back in the second half.
You think the dodgers are going to get that much done in the off-season with the amount of money already on the books? Ok, ok….
If the Dodgers get Bauer’s money back and pass on Max and Kelley, yes I think that they have enough money to sign Seager, Taylor, Kershaw if he wants to play, trade a prospect for Sonny Gray, and retain either Jansen or Knebel if not both. And win over 95 games in 2022.
The Dodgers would count themselves fortunate to get back half of their commitment to Bauer, and even that much they might not know for years. For certain they can’t make any plans around it for this offseason. It’s a much bigger mess than most people appreciate.
A .250 18 home run hitter turning down 18.4 million. What a time to be a ball player!
.344 OBP, plays every position but catcher… gotta look at a bit more than HR and BA if you wanna understand these things.
If Tigers think Kreidler is going to be ready in 2023, he would be a good candidate to fill the SS in 2022 & move around in 2023+. Not likely but if they miss out on the top 3 SS, not a bad fall back signing.