Tyrone Taylor, OF

Position: Outfielder
Bats/Throws: R/R
Age: 32 (January 22, 1994)

2026 Stats: 119 PA, .217/.248/.417/.655, 26 H, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 14 R, 6 BB, 23 K
2026 Advanced Stats: 82OPS+, 82 wRC+, 17.8% K, 3.9% BB, .220 BABIP, .286 xwOBA, 0.1 bWAR, -0.3 fWAR

Contract Status: Free Agent, $3.8 million 2026 contract

John Jones-Imagn Images

Rundown

Tyrone Taylor has appeared on multiple trade lists as a good defensive outfielder who can hit left-handed pitching off the bench.

Why would teams want to trade for Tyrone Taylor, who is having his worst offensive season and has declined every season since 2021? Do teams care about defense that much? The answer is yes, and there are some reasons that he can be better than he has been offensively.

Taylor has shown through his career that he can be a strong defender in center field and a plus defender in both corner outfield spots. He utilizes his elite speed to help him cover ground and his plus arm strength to hold runners. That alone is an archetype that teams like to have on their bench down the stretch as a late-inning defensive substitution. But there are some reasons to think that Taylor has something more left in the tank offensively than he has shown so far.

Since Taylor returned from the injured list, he has mostly been used against left-handed pitchers. In seven games, he’s slashed .348/.400/.826/1.226 in 25 plate appearances. That slash line includes three home runs, bringing his total to six on the season. That is three times as many home runs as he hit in roughly one-third of the plate appearances against lefties in 2025. He has done this by better accessing his power and trading off some contact to get there. His 103.7 miles per hour 90% exit velocity is right around the league average compared to 102.7 miles per hour in 2025 (36th percentile). A one-mile-per-hour difference may not seem like a lot, but it is. Taylor still pulls the ball in the air at a high rate and limits swing and miss.

Against left-handed pitchers, Taylor is slashing .254/.267/.475/.741, which is good for a 102 WRC+. Against right-handed pitching, he is slashing .180/.231/.361/.591, which is good for a 63 WRC+. That is the difference this year between Isaac Collins and Jake Meyers.

As a defensive substitute, pinch runner, and pinch hitter against left-handed pitching, Taylor does have some value, which is why he keeps appearing on trade lists.

POTENTIAL LANDING SPOTS

Some comparative trades are:

The realistic return is probably an older prospect in the upper minors that could potentially be depth in the future, and maybe some cash considerations.

1. Phillies

The Phillies have some of the worst defense in center field as well as some of the worst offense against left-handed pitching, especially from their outfield, which has a 73 WRC+ against lefties. Taylor would be an upgrade over Edmundo Sosa, who has been worse against left-handed pitching and is really more of a corner outfield or infield option. They could also cut one of their two catchers and make Sosa primarily an infielder. A return could look like 28-year-old outfielder Pedro León, who still has two options, or soon-to-be 29-year-old reliever Nolan Hoffman, who has an option and some major league experience.

2. Athletics

The Athletics have struggled defensively in center field, and while not as bad as the Phillies, their outfield has been below average against left-handed pitching. Really, the Athletics should probably just cut Jeff McNeil, who has been one of the worst players in baseball this year across the board. Somehow, even with Marcus Semien‘s struggles and injury, the Mets have been better off at second base than if they had kept McNeil. Taylor would also be an upgrade over Colby Thomas, who is not a strong defender or hitter and can be optioned. A return could look like 27-year-old Triple-A infielder Jack Winkler, who has an option, or 26-year-old Double-A reliever Ryan Madgic.

3. Yankees

The Yankees have been the worst defensive team in center field, with both Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger taking big defensive steps back at the position. They hit lefties fine, but are desperate for defense. Amed Rosario and Max Schuemann are the outfield options alongside Jose Caballero, and none of them are really center field options. Schuemann is fine there, but you would rather have him in the infield. A return could look like 26-year-old Triple-A outfielder Garrett Martin or 27-year-old Double-A reliever Trent Sellers.