The Los Angeles Dodgers made another surprising roster move on Sunday, this time releasing Chris Taylor, who was the longest-tenured position player on their club.
While Taylor’s performance was certainly worthy of his release, the Dodgers valued him as a person and teammate, and that made the decision difficult. But that respect can only go so far with the team having better options to fill Taylor’s roster spot and pushing for another National League West title.
Taylor was in the final season of a four-year, $60 million contract he singed prior to the 2022 season. It also included a club option for the 2026 season with a $4 million buyout.
After releasing Taylor, the Dodgers have to pay the remaining portion of his $13 million salary for this season, which comes out to just more than $9 million, plus the buyout for the 2026 club option, via Mike DiGiovanna of the Associated Press:
Taylor, who played all three outfield spots and second base this season, is owed $13,435,484 from a $60 million, four-year contract he agreed to ahead of the 2022 season. He is due the remaining $9,435,484 of his $13 million salary this season and a $4 million buyout of a 2026 club option.
In total, the Dodgers currently have to pay Taylor $13,435,484 for the remainder of his contract.
However, if Taylor is signed by another team, which would be for the league minimum of $760,000, that prorated amounted would be deducted from what the Dodgers owe him. The prorated amount of league minimum 30% into the season is $532,000.
So the total money the Dodgers owe Taylor as of now should slightly change based on if he signs a Major League contract or a Minor League deal, when that happens, and how many days of service time he ends up getting with a new club.
Regardless, the Dodgers will owe Taylor an amount somewhere between $12,903,484 (if he signs a Major League deal by Monday) and $13,435,484 (if no one signs him for the remainder of the season).
Chris Taylor falls short of service time milestone with Dodgers
Taylor was poised to become a player with 10-and-5 rights, which would’ve automatically given him a full no-trade clause. That is granted to a player with 10 years of service time and their most recent five years all with the same club.
Taylor can still reach the 10 years of Major League service time milestone with another team, which is something players strive to reach, but he will no longer be able to obtain the no-trade clause.
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