The Los Angeles Dodgers released Chris Taylor Sunday, but that doesn’t mean the team will stop paying the utility man the remainder of his contract.
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Taylor was in the final year of a four-year, $60 million deal and had $16 million guaranteed left on his deal entering the season. He is still owed $13,435,484 million in total, and is set to receive $9,435,484 this season. The remainder of the $13-plus million will come as a $4 million buyout of a 2026 club option.
The veteran was in the midst of his 10th season with the Dodgers, and leaves the organization as a two-time World Series champion, 2017 NL Championship Series MVP and a former All-Star.
Taylor gave the Dodgers flexibility in terms of where he could play on the diamond, but eventually transitioned into more of a bench player for the team.
With the way the L.A. roster panned out this season, the Dodgers used Taylor sparingly.
This season, Taylor was slashing .200/.200/.257 with two runs batted in and an OPS of .457 across 28 games. He had 35 plate appearances, going 7-for-35 with 13 strikeouts this season.
The release of Taylor came just days after the Dodgers designated longtime catcher Austin Barnes for assignment. The latest moves sent a resounding message to the rest of the roster: Production is imperative as winning remains the top priority for the Dodgers in 2025.