{"id":29100,"date":"2025-02-27T03:52:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T03:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29100"},"modified":"2025-02-27T03:52:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T03:52:27","slug":"shocking-dodgers-60m-all-star-fighting-just-to-make-the-roster-in-spring-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29100","title":{"rendered":"SHOCKING: Dodgers’ $60M All-Star Fighting Just to Make the Roster in Spring Training!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Los<\/picture><\/figure>\n
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor (3) tags out Cincinnati Reds first baseman Jeimer Candelario (3) in the second inning of a Cactus League game between the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. \/ Frank Bowen IV\/The Enquirer \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/div>\n
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Good things seem to happen whenever Chris Taylor is at Camelback Ranch and he’s hoping spring training will bring more positive news.<\/p>\n

In August, Taylor found himself in Glendale Ariz., working on his swing during a rehab assignment. He ended the season batting .314 over the last 23 games of the regular season.<\/p>\n

This spring is slightly different as Taylor has tweaked his swing yet again to save his job.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI worked on some mechanical stuff this offseason, trying to get things closer to how they were when I was good,\u201d\u00a0Taylor said<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m just trying to perform. I\u2019m just trying to make a team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The veteran, who is entering his 10th season with the Dodgers, is hoping his new swing will lead to more contact.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to explain, easier to show,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cIt\u2019s [swing] path stuff and being a little more direct to the ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of complicated because all parts of the swing are connected. When you change stuff with your hands, it can have an effect on your lower half. And vice versa. That\u2019s where it\u2019s difficult. Just really trying to make a little more contact and be simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taylor was named NLCS MVP in 2017 and has accumulated a 16.7 WAR over his nine seasons with the Dodgers. He is entering the final year of his four-year, $60 million contract, earning $13 million this season with a $12 million team option for 2026.<\/p>\n

Throughout his career, he has played significant time in multiple positions, including left field (362 games), shortstop (290), center field (209), and second base (170).<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always said that one of Chris\u2019 superpowers \u2013 and he\u2019s won a lot of big games for the Dodgers in the biggest of moments \u2013 is his mindset, his mentality to be ready for whatever we ask of him,\u201d manager Dave Roberts said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still believe that\u2019s a superpower, and his ability to play all over the diamond. So he\u2019s got various gloves. He\u2019s healthy. He\u2019s moving really well. So it could be from third base to left field to center field, and I think after that, there\u2019s second base in there. \u2018CT\u2019 just knows how to prepare himself.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor (3) tags out Cincinnati Reds first baseman Jeimer Candelario (3) in the second inning of a Cactus League game between… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29104,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nSHOCKING: Dodgers' $60M All-Star Fighting Just to Make the Roster in Spring Training! - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29100\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SHOCKING: Dodgers' $60M All-Star Fighting Just to Make the Roster in Spring Training! 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