Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his walk off two-run home run in the ninth inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 3 to 1 during the National League Wild Card Game at Dodger Stadium on October 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing back free agent Chris Taylor, agreeing with the versatile All-Star on a $60 million, four-year deal Wednesday night that includes a club option.
The 31-year-old Taylor was an All-Star for the first time in 2021, when he hit .254 with 20 homers and set career highs with 92 runs and 73 RBIs. He hit a game-ending homer in the NL wild-card game against St. Louis, then batted .476 in the NL Championship Series against Atlanta, with three homers in Game 5.
Taylor has played every position except catcher, first base and pitcher, and is a career .261 hitter with 79 homers. He was the co-NLCS MVP in 2017 and also a key contributor when the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020.
The Dodgers retained Taylor after losing ace Max Scherzer and shortstop Corey Seager in free agency this week. Scherzer signed a $130 million, three-year contract with the New York Mets, and Seager signed a $325 million, 10-year deal with the Texas Rangers.
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Taylor had gathered interest from multiple teams in free agency including the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Miami Marlins among others.
Sources told NBC LA late Tuesday night that Talyor was expecting to sign before the 12:00PM EST MLB lockout deadline and that it came down to the Marlins and Dodgers. Sources also indicated that Taylor had received high offers, but ultimately really wanted to return to the Dodgers.
Taylor will be paid $15 million in 2022 and ‘23, then $13 million in ’24 and '25. His club option for 2026 is for $12 million with a $4 million buyout.
Los Angeles designated infielder Sheldon Neuse for assignment to clear space for Taylor on the 40-man roster.
