I wanna like Michael A Taylor Appreciation Thread (split from 2020-21 Offseason)

[bluestreak]

Michael A Taylor cleared waivers and has opted for free agency.

[JCA  Edit - Dude with that much time and that many moments with the Nats deserves his own departure thread.

[varoadking]

Michael A Taylor cleared waivers and has opted for free agency.

Mrs. VaRK's favorite player.  He has a ring and millions of dollars anyway.  Wish him the best going forward...

[bluestreak]

Mrs. VaRK's favorite player.  He has a ring and millions of dollars anyway.  Wish him the best going forward...

Even if he doesn’t play another game, I think most guys coming up would take his career. Ring, decent money, and a part of a bunch of important moments.

2017 Playoff grand slam, game ending catch vs. Dodgers, and probably biggest HBP in franchise history.

[varoadking]

...probably biggest HBP in franchise history.

Probably...but Tabata will be the one most remembered though, I suspect...

[imref]

Even if he doesn’t play another game, I think most guys coming up would take his career. Ring, decent money, and a part of a bunch of important moments.

2017 Playoff grand slam, game ending catch vs. Dodgers, and probably biggest HBP in franchise history.

I saw Jonny Gomes get a walk-off HBP with the bases loaded against Philly in 2011, but yeah, the Taylor one was certainly bigger.

[imref]

Did you know: Michael A Taylor was drafted as a shortstop.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Did you know: Michael A Taylor was drafted as a shortstop.

more remarkable given his size is Michael Morse played SS in the minors, as did Adam Jones, for Seattle.

[hotshot]

Stevenson > Taylor. Stras is all that remains from 2012

If you took away the nice finish Stevenson had to this "season," I'm not sure at all that many would put him ahead of Michael A. Up til then, he had shown very little.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

My guess with Taylor is he'll look for a situation where he can play, but if he's not going to get regular PAs, there's a chance he gets backup outfielder pay from the Nats.  I'm more intrigued by Stevenson at this point, but there may be a need for a right-handed bench bat / 5th OF who can fill in comfortably in any outfield slot. 

[blue911]

more remarkable given his size is Michael Morse played SS in the minors, as did Adam Jones, for Seattle.

I saw Morse play short during the ‘05 season.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I saw Morse play short during the ‘05 season.

any permanent effects on you? 

[bluestreak]

One last article on MAT before he is banished to former Nationals watch.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/16/michael-a-taylor-nationals-highlights/

[sixthree175]

One last article on MAT before he is banished to former Nationals watch.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/16/michael-a-taylor-nationals-highlights/

I wonder what he's worth on the open market?  2 years at $5mm?

[Slateman]

I wonder what he's worth on the open market?  2 years at $5mm?

I imagine he'll take a one year deal that will allow him to start.

[aspenbubba]

I wonder what he's worth on the open market?  2 years at $5mm?

I’m guessing slightly over 1.25 on a 1 year deal. He had one decent year under Rusty and if the Astros need a 4th OF they may go slightly higher if Rusty is retained for another year. It’s not like some team claimed him when he was put on waivers.

[Natsinpwc]

I’m guessing slightly over 1.25 on a 1 year deal. He had one decent year under Rusty and if the Astros need a 4th OF they may go slightly higher if Rusty is retained for another year.

This year was his highest OPS (.676) outside of 2017.  Just can’t hit MLB pitching.  Hard to think many teams would be interested other than Triple A insurance. You might be right about Dusty. Especially if they lose Springer.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I imagine he'll take a one year deal that will allow him to start.

The Nats thought he was worth keeping around last year at $3.325MM.  There may be a market for him around $2- 3 MM, depending on the situation.  He's a complementary piece on a good team because he has a few high end skills (defense, speed, and some pop).  You could see a team with a lot of hitting maybe value his D more than a team that needs O out of centerfield.  But I'm with you in that he'll look for the most playing time even though he's best suited as an extra piece.

[Natsinpwc]

The Nats thought he was worth keeping around last year at $3.325MM.  There may be a market for him around $2- 3 MM, depending on the situation.  He's a complementary piece on a good team because he has a few high end skills (defense, speed, and some pop).  You could see a team with a lot of hitting maybe value his D more than a team that needs O out of centerfield.  But I'm with you in that he'll look for the most playing time even though he's best suited as an extra piece.

Phillies might be a destination if they dont sign Didi. Segura to SS and Kingery to 2B rather than CF. Taylor could split time with Haseley. If they have given up on Roman Quinn which they should.

[aspenbubba]

The Nats thought he was worth keeping around last year at $3.325MM.  There may be a market for him around $2- 3 MM, depending on the situation.  He's a complementary piece on a good team because he has a few high end skills (defense, speed, and some pop).  You could see a team with a lot of hitting maybe value his D more than a team that needs O out of centerfield.  But I'm with you in that he'll look for the most playing time even though he's best suited as an extra piece.

Wasn't that figure due to arbitration? And he was in the minors for most of 2019. I always thought it was a waste of money and they were hoping that he could have replicated 2017 in 2018.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Wasn't that figure due to arbitration? And he was in the minors for most of 2019. I always thought it was a waste of money and they were hoping that he could have replicated 2017 in 2018.

well, it was a settlement in lieu of a final year of arbitration.  however, for 2019, before he was paid $3.25MM after losing arbitration, so he got a raise.  The minor league status for most of the year was due to a roster squeeze, but they kept him on the roster for the playoffs and he was huge doing what he does best, playing in place of an injured starter and coming off the bench. 

[imref]

MAT last 3 years: .225 / .284 / .370, he hit .196 / .253 this past season. He actually was a -0.3 dWar this past season. 

I'd bet he either gets a minor league invite with a chance to make a club, or he plays in Japan or South Korea next year.

[Slateman]

The Nats thought he was worth keeping around last year at $3.325MM.  There may be a market for him around $2- 3 MM, depending on the situation.  He's a complementary piece on a good team because he has a few high end skills (defense, speed, and some pop).  You could see a team with a lot of hitting maybe value his D more than a team that needs O out of centerfield.  But I'm with you in that he'll look for the most playing time even though he's best suited as an extra piece.

He's a decent season away from getting a 2-4 year at 5+ AAV

[aspenbubba]

MAT last 3 years: .225 / .284 / .370, he hit .196 / .253 this past season. He actually was a -0.3 dWar this past season. 

I'd bet he either gets a minor league invite with a chance to make a club, or he plays in Japan or South Korea next year.

And that is probably all he deserves. Obviously I’m not a fanboi !

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Adding a link to Jesse Dougherty's write up on MAT electing FA

Now that he’s a free agent, leaving the Washington Nationals after 11 years with the organization, Michael A. Taylor becomes a “choose-what-to-remember” kind of player. There’s the grand slam in Game 4 of the National League Division Series in 2017, the way he hit that season, how he seemed to always thrive in the playoffs. Or, for skeptics, there’s the untapped potential, his bat a tick behind, his final days in Washington notable only for with scattered starts and sagging production.

The whole of Taylor was a confounding, high-ceiling outfielder who never found his footing here.
...
His peak in Washington came in 2017, when he had a strong year in place of the injured Eaton. Taylor hit .271 with a .320 on-base percentage and .486 slugging percentage and 19 homers. In Game 4 of the NLDS, he famously lifted the Nationals with a grand slam through the wind and rain at Wrigley Field. Then he crashed down from that high.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/15/michael-a-taylor-free-agency-nationals/

[Elvir Ovcina]

Bigger rosters really help a guy like him get a chance at an MLB contract.  Plays legit CF and has power, regardless of the other shortcomings.   I wish him luck - limitations aside, he seems like a good dude and did the business at some really critical times despite getting dumped in the minors after a fair amount of MLB time.