Dodgers: Chris Taylor Wanted to Re-Sign with LA ‘the Whole Time’
Chris Taylor has been a linchpin for the Dodgers since the 2017 season. Taylor transformed himself from Seattle Mariners cast-off to an impactful everyday player. CT3 became a free agent after the 2021 season and there were legitimate questions on if he would re-sign with LA.
Taylor never had a doubt that he would be re-up with the Dodgers. Taylor signed a four-year, $60 million deal on December 1st. He explained his thought process in an interview with AM570’s David Vassegh on Dodger Talk this week.
“I wanted to stay with the Dodgers the whole time.”
Taylor made his first All-Star team in 2021 on the strength of an incredible first half. CT3 put up a .277/.382/.452 slash line to earn his spot on the NL squad. The super utility-man produced a wRC+ of 130. He tailed off in the second half, but Taylor was a crucial piece of the Dodgers roster all year.
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His walk-off home run in the Wild-Card game against the Cardinals was the exclamation point.
Taylor was a hot commodity due to his positional flexibility and offensive production. He did talk to other teams, but at the end of the day, it was always going to be LA.
“There was only one team I was excited about talking about and that was the Dodgers.”
It’s always refreshing when a team identifies an undervalued commodity, maximizes their potential, and then makes the financial commitment to retain them. It’s even better when the player is a fan favorite.
There are few players in the league like Taylor. Per FanGraphs, CT3 is 44th in WAR (14.1) for position players since joining Los Angeles.
Rest easy Dodgers fans, Taylor is here for at least four more years.
NEXT: Corey Knebel Credits 2021 Success with LA Changing His Pitching Strategy
Chris Taylor was an excellent signing for the Dodgers because he can do it all. His flexibility to play multiple positions at a high level, his great attitude and ability to excel in all areas of the game make him the most valuable Dodger in my opinion. He is a unique player who makes his team better just by being on the field.
Great job Dodgers bringing back CT3. And CT for wanting to come back to the Dodgers. Hope we get to play ball in 2022 and see what else CT3 has in store for us!
He’s the real MVP.
dodgers probably slightly overpaid for Taylor, but at least they didn’t do another mike’ whoopsie.the rangers way overpaid for Seager. you won’t be seeing Seager play in October for a while if ever.
I always was angry when an individual in the front office, Andrew Friedman, made the statement about Chris last year; “just a scrappy little utility guy trying to keep his job”. Chris has been the center point of this team for at least the last two years. So glad Chris is staying with the Dodgers. Just wish he was playing 2nd or Short Stop.
Sorry, just do not have much respect for Andrew Friedman after he made that statement.
With Scherzer, Kershaw, Seager, Jansen and others in free agency, a lot of people, including me, thought CT3 was the one essential signing. Glad they got it done prior to the lock down.
Is there a better team player than Chris Taylor in baseball, or sports in general? If there is, I don’t know who he is. He can do it all. And is eager to do whatever it takes to win.