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.
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.
