Dodgers bring back Chris Taylor for $60M over 4 years
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing back versatile Allstar Chris Taylor, agreeing to a $60 million, four-year deal with a club option Wednesday night.
The 31-year-old Taylor was an Allstar for the first time in 2021, when he hit .254 with 20 homers and set career highs with 92 runs and 73 RBIS. He hit a game-ending homer in the NL wild-card game against St. Louis, then batted .476 in the NL Championship Series against Atlanta, with three homers in Game 5.
Taylor has played every position except catcher, first base and pitcher, and is a career .261 hitter with 79 homers. He was the CO-NLCS MVP in 2017 and also a key contributor when the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020.
The Dodgers retained Taylor after losing ace Max Scherzer and shortstop Corey Seager in free agency this week. Scherzer signed a $130 million, threeyear contract with the New York Mets, and Seager signed a $325 million, 10year deal with the Texas Rangers.
Taylor will be paid $15 million in 2022 and ‘23, then $13 million in '24 and ‘25. His club option for 2026 is for $12 million with a $4 million buyout.
Cubs give Stroman $71M, 3-year deal to improve rotation
CHICAGO – Marcus Stroman rushed to the airport and caught a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago as soon as he got the word from his agent.
The right-hander arrived just in time with a lockout looming to complete a $71 million, three-year contract. And the Cubs landed one of the top remaining starting pitchers on the free agent market on Wednesday.
“It's one of the best franchises in all of sports and fan bases as well, so it's extremely appealing to me,” Stroman said. “It sells out every single night. To pitch in front of that electric crowd is something that kind of draws me.”
— Wire reports