Michael Taylor
At this point, Cody Bellinger’s MVP season is so far in the rearview mirror that it may as well have happened in the Dead Ball Era.
There was hope that Bellinger would bounce back after his hideous showing in 2021. While he has been better this year, his 81 OPS+ is still far below what anyone would have hoped for. He has been essentially useless against left handed pitching, making a platoon situation necessary.
The problem is that there are not many options capable of playing center field, let alone any that are right handed. One such option can be found in Kansas City, where the Royals Michael Taylor is in the midst of a career year. His 111 OPS+ is the best of his time in the majors and he is still playing Gold Glove caliber defense.
Taylor would be more than a rental as well. The Royals had signed him to a two year extension before the end of the 2021 season, locking him in at what is proving to be a bargain. He may also fetch a higher trade return than anyone would have expected when he signed that extension, but the Royals will need to actually put him on the trade block first.
The Los Angeles Dodgers need a right handed hitting complement in center. Michael Taylor may be a gamble, but his defense is well worth the cost.