Utility man Chris Taylor will always be a beloved member of the Los Angeles Dodgers family.
After being acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners back in 2016, Taylor suited up for the Dodgers in 10 different seasons. He logged 790 hits, 108 home runs, 81 stolen bases, and played over 1,000 games in a Dodgers uniform.
Taylor was selected to the All-Star Game in 2021 and won two World Series championships in L.A. He was also named NLCS MVP back in 2017 and once hit three home runs in 2021 NLCS Game 5 against the Atlanta Braves.
It’s undeniable that Taylor has been a valued member of the Dodgers family for the last decade…and now he moves to the other side of town.
Taylor signed with the Los Angeles Angels after being released by the Dodgers on May 18. He then posted a farewell to Dodgers fans on his Instagram account that will get every Dodger fan emotional.
Chris Taylor’s goodbye to Dodgers fans
“I’m beyond grateful to have been a part of the Dodger family for the past 9 years. It was a hell of a run with plenty of peaks and valleys and I wouldn’t change a thing. I especially want to thank all of my coaches, teammates, and the Dodger fans,” Taylor wrote. “Playing for this team has been a dream come true and I have created friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”
It’s always sad to move on from a player that has been part of a team’s identity for so long. Taylor was never a superstar for the Dodgers, but he was never supposed to be. He played his role perfectly and it’s hard to describe the value he brought with defensive versatility and clubhouse leadership on a daily basis.
At 34 years old, Taylor is probably coming to the end of his big league career before long. He has a .182 batting average in 31 games played this year with the Dodgers and Angels.
Maybe Taylor is hoping that a strong month of June could land him a trade to a contending team for a playoff push. Maybe he’s content riding off into the SoCal sunset with the Angels and staying home.
It’s sad to see him go, but it’s what is best for the team. The Dodgers are a better ball club without Taylor in 2025 and, in the midst of a World Series window, that should be the only thing that matters.
