Chris Taylor remained in the Los Angeles area as the Angels signed the utility player to a one-year, $760,000 contract on Monday, a week after he was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 34-year-old veteran made his Angels debut Monday night, playing center field and batting eighth against the New York Yankees in Anaheim, Calif. Taylor went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts as Los Angeles fell 5-1.
“I feel like I have a lot to prove to myself,” Taylor said pregame. “I haven’t performed to how I feel I’m capable of playing the last couple seasons. I want to turn that around.”
Angels manager Ron Washington said of Taylor, “He brings experience. It’s something we need in there. He’s been through the wars. He’s a good piece for those young guys to talk to. He’s been in the grind over there in L.A. And we want that. We’ve seen him play, and we’re going to give him an opportunity to see what he’s got left.”
Taylor appeared in 28 games for the Dodgers this season, his 10th with the reigning World Series champions. He logged just 35 at-bats, however, and finished with seven hits — including two doubles — and two RBIs. The Dodgers released him on May 18.
A fifth-round draft pick by Seattle in 2012, Taylor won World Series titles with the Dodgers in 2020 and 2024 while also earning an All-Star nod in 2021. Taylor also shared the National League Championship Series MVP in 2017 with teammate Justin Turner.
In his 12-year career, Taylor has batted .250 with 108 home runs and 433 RBIs.
A roster spot was created when the Angels optioned infielder/outfielder Kyren Paris, 23, to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
