Former Dodgers utilityman Chris Taylor signs deal | College News

Former Dodgers utilityman Chris Taylor signed a one-year, main league minimal contract with the Angels on Monday.

Taylor will begin in heart area against the New York Yankees on Monday and bat eighth.

Angels prospect Kyren Paris, who was struggling at the plate in current weeks — hitting just .190 — was optioned to triple-A Salt Lake City to make room for Taylor on the roster.

“He’s been through the wars,” Angels supervisor Ron Washington mentioned of Taylor, including that the Angels plan to use him in the outfield and the infield. “He’s a good piece for those young guys to talk to about how to handle a grind. He’s been in a grind over there with L.A., every day, winning, and we want that.”

Released by the Dodgers in the ultimate yr of his four-year, $60-million contract final week, Taylor was hitting .200 with seven hits in 35 at-bats before coming into free company. Washington is hopeful Taylor’s popularity for being a quiet clubhouse chief will help revive an Angels group two video games under .500.

“I’m excited to stay home — I get to live at home,” Taylor mentioned. “The Angels have been playing really good baseball, so I’m excited to join the team and hopefully get on the field. That was one thing with the Dodgers this year, just my role, I wasn’t getting on the field that much. So I’m really just looking forward to, like, getting consistent at-bats and playing time.”

A profession .250 hitter and a one-time All-Star, the 34-year-old Taylor has expertise enjoying in the infield and all three outfield positions, including versatility and depth to an Angels group ready for outfielder Mike Trout’s return from the injured checklist (knee). Taylor mentioned common supervisor Perry Minasian and Washington informed him he’d be enjoying three to 4 instances a week. Taylor believes he’ll be slotted into the lineup at heart area Tuesday as nicely.

“First and foremost, I want to perform on the field,” mentioned Taylor, who attributed his multi-season batting hunch to swing mechanics. “I want to help this team win ballgames. I feel like I have a lot to prove to myself. I haven’t performed to how I feel I’m capable of playing the last couple seasons, and I kind of want to turn that around.”

Angels nearer Kenley Jansen, who performed alongside Taylor on the Dodgers from 2016 to 2021, realized of Taylor’s signing while on his manner to Angel Stadium.

“It’s nice to have him back,” mentioned Jansen, who mentioned he spoke to Minasian about Taylor on Sunday. “I think once he gets more playing time here, I think, you know, it’s going to be great for the organization and help us win ball games.”

When requested about Taylor’s release Wednesday, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned his former longest-tenured place participant was wanting for an alternative to play more usually slightly than accepting a demotion to triple A.

“He wanted an opportunity, if it wasn’t going to be here to play more, to play somewhere else,” Roberts mentioned. “So that’s kind of the thought behind how it played out, and I respect him for betting on himself and hopefully get an opportunity to play more somewhere else.”

Taylor ought to get those alternatives with the Angels. As he put it, enjoying at Angel Stadium is a contemporary begin, an alternative to regain his earlier kind in the batter’s box.

“It was emotional,” Taylor mentioned of his Dodgers departure. “I’ve been on the Dodgers for nine years, but I do believe it was time for me. It was my time to kind of start fresh, hopefully turn the page, start a new chapter. I’m excited to do that here.”