Michael A. Taylor

Position: OF, B/T: R/R

Age: 32 (03/26/1991)

2023 Traditional Stats: 129 G, 388 PA, .220/.278/.442/.720, 21 HR, 51 RBI, 14 2B, 26 BB, 13 SB

2023 Advanced Stats: 96 wRC+, 33.5% SO%, 6.7% BB%, .278 BABIP, .311 xwOBA, 1.7 fWAR, 1.9 bWAR

Rundown

The Washington Nationals selected Michael A. Taylor in the sixth round of the 2009 Major League Draft out of Westminster Academy. Originally a shortstop, Taylor moved to the outfield in 2010 after a disastrous 2010 Gulf Coast League debut, committing 21 errors in various infield positions.

He made his major league debut with the Nationals against the Mets in August 2014 and found himself shuffling back and forth between starting centerfielder and fourth outfielder. After winning a World Series with the Nats in 2019 and a disappointing year in 2020, Taylor signed with the Royals, where he won a Gold Glove Award.

Taylor was traded to the Twins in the offseason and became their primary centerfielder, playing over 960 innings there. While not the most reliable hitter in the order, Taylor is a defensive first player, especially when it comes to his arm. He has a cannon, and it’s prevented both runs from scoring and players from taking extra bases.

The outfielder’s arm strength has been in the top ten percent of the league every season since 2020 when Statcast announced the metric. According to Statcast, his overall arm strength sits around 91.5 mph, but his top max strength is around 102.4 mph. Taylor is one of only ten outfielders with a throw over 102 mph. Since the start of 2020, Taylor has the highest value arm of any outfield — as he’s prevented 15 runs in the outfield.

Unexpectedly, Taylor went through a bit of a power surge in 2023, clobbering 21 home runs. Former Twins play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer noted Taylor began utilizing a new leg kick in his batting stance he didn’t have with Kansas City, attributing to his newfound power surge.

Contract

Taylor has always been an under-the-radar name who’s been given a fair contract. However, after hitting a career-high 21 home runs in 2023 and continuing to be one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, he’s due for a multi-year deal.

Fangraphs projects Taylor will nab a two-year, $14 million deal. Taylor is due for a raise coming off a two-year, $9 million extension he signed with the Royals before being traded to the Twins. The 32-year-old centerfielder still lands in the top ten percent among MLB outfielders in almost all fielding categories, but a two-year deal might be a stretch. One year at a $7 million rate seems more realistic.

Recommendation

Many have reported that the Mets have spoken with Taylor and expressed interest in the outfielder. With Brandon Nimmo right now the only lock in the outfield, Taylor would be a good fit. While the Mets have Starling Marte and DJ Stewart right now on the active roster, the team is unsure how much both can provide on a full-time basis.

Taylor would slot in beautifully as a fourth outfielder, pushing Nimmo to either a corner spot or, in the event the Mets sign or trade for another starting outfielder, a true fourth outfielder. His defensive-first approach is something new president of baseball operations David Stearns has been preaching in his offseason signings, and Taylor would be another indication of that.

While I don’t see the Mets dishing out a two-year deal, I can see them handing out a Tommy Pham-like, one-year deal. The projected $7 million per year seems right in the ballpark for a player of Taylor’s caliber, and he would bring much-needed defensive protection behind Nimmo.