He is staying in Southern California after signing a one-year, \$760,000 deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, just a week after being released by the Dodgers.
The 34-year-old veteran made his debut for the Angels that evening, starting in center field and hitting eighth in the lineup against the New York Yankees in Anaheim. He struck out in his first plate appearance.
Before the game, He expressed a desire to rebound from recent struggles: “I feel like I have a lot to prove to myself. I haven’t played up to my standards the last couple of seasons, and I want to change that.”
Angels manager Ron Washington praised the acquisition, saying, “He brings valuable experience, which is something our young players can learn from. He’s been through a lot with the Dodgers and has a strong understanding of what it takes to compete. We’ve seen him play and want to give him a shot to show what he still has.”
This season, Taylor appeared in 28 games for the Dodgers — his 10th with the team — but saw limited action with only 35 at-bats, tallying seven hits, including two doubles, and two RBIs. He was released on May 18.
Originally a fifth-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2012, Taylor has won two World Series titles with the Dodgers (2020, 2024) and was an All-Star in 2021. He was also co-MVP of the 2017 National League Championship Series alongside Justin Turner.
Over his 12-year MLB career, Taylor holds a .250 batting average with 108 home runs and 433 RBIs.
The Angels made room for Taylor on the roster by sending 23-year-old utility player Kyren Paris to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.
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