Kansas City Royals finally listening on Michael A. Taylor
The free agent market for center fielders is essentially barren now that Kevin Kiermaier and Brandon Nimmo have signed. This is something that the Kansas City Royals may be able to take advantage of.
According to Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic, the Royals are open to trading Michael A. Taylor. Rosenthal also reported that the Royals are willing to trade Hunter Dozier, but that is essentially a pipe dream.
Michael A. Taylor an interesting trade option for Kansas City Royals
Taylor had one of his better major league seasons in 2022. He posted a .254/.313/.357 batting line with nine homers and ten doubles in his 456 plate appearances while cutting down his strikeout rate. Those numbers may not be impressive but they are not overly terrible.
Where Taylor truly stands out is with his defense. He has saved 38 runs in center over the past two seasons, winning the 2021 AL Gold Glove at the position. That defensive acumen will generate plenty of attention, especially for teams whose corner outfielders are questionable at best with the glove.
He is also an expensive spare part for the Royals. Prospect Drew Waters is a center fielder by trade and is going to get his chances to prove himself in Kansas City. Taylor, meanwhile, is in the final year of his extension and will turn 32 years old at the start of the season. He is not going to be a long term option for the Royals.
But he can be a viable trade chip. There are plenty of teams looking for an upgrade in center, even if it is a one year stopgap. The Royals may be able to accelerate their rebuilding process, even if it is just slightly, by sending Taylor elsewhere.
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The Kansas City Royals are reportedly willing to trade Michael A. Taylor. Given the state of the center field market, this is the perfect time to do so.