The White Sox have signed outfielder Michael A. Taylor to a deal, as first reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand followed up a short time later saying the agreement is for one year, $1.95 million with performance bonuses included.
Taylor, who turns 34 in March, has been well-known for his defense throughout his 11-year big-league career. Having earned a Gold Glove in 2021 with the Royals, the centerfielder has consistently made a difference with his leather while undercutting his value due to offensive struggles.
Coming off a forgettable 2024 season, Taylor hit .193/.253/.290 with a 50 wRC+ and an alarming 35% strikeout rate in 113 games with the Pirates. Among players with at least 300 plate appearances, only the newly signed Brandon Drury and Eddie Rosario owned a lower wRC+ mark. It was enough to send Taylor to the open market as Pittsburgh released him in late September.
Taylor’s addition is surely for his defense, but it also raises questions about Luis Robert Jr.’s immediate future. Taylor has continued to play primarily in center field despite his age, appearing there in 103 games for the Pirates in 2024 and all 126 games with the Twins in 2023. In fact, he has 78 Defensive Runs Saved in the position dating back to 2015, putting him third league-wide behind the retired Kevin Keirmaier and Lorenzo Cain. Chris Getz has said publicly that he expects Robert Jr. to be in the Opening Day lineup and with no trade imminent, it’s possible the team could just be getting ahead of the inevitable.
We will continue to monitor the outfielder situation closely this spring and provide relevant updates as we inch closer to the start of the season.
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