As expected, 31-year-old Swiss Army Knife utility infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor has rejected the Dodgers one-year/$18.4 million Qualifying Offer, opting instead to test Free Agency for the first time in his eight-year MLB career.

The Dodgers acquired Taylor in a trade with the Seattle Mariners on June 19, 2016, for Dodgers highly touted 2010 first-round draft pick Zach Lee. Taylor was the Mariners’ fifth-round draft pick in 2012 out of the University of Virginia near his hometown of Virginia Beach, VA, and posted a slash line of .264 / .341 / .458 / .799 with 79 home runs and 299 RBI in his six seasons with the Dodgers. And while these might not be attention-grabbing offensive numbers, it is his remarkable versatility with his glove – at multiple positions – that has made him a highly sought free agent target that includes the Dodgers.

Taylor is the second Dodger (of two) to decline the lofty $18.4 million Qualifying Offer, joining two-time All-Star and 2020 World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager, who rejected his QO on November 8. And while this may be disappointing for fans of the two extremely popular Dodgers, it is most certainly understandable, as both are likely to receive better – and longer – free-agent contracts. In fact, many baseball experts are projecting that Taylor will receive something in the four-year/$64 million range on the free agent market.

Another thing to consider is that the current MLB/MLB Players Association Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on December 1, 2021. As such (and if there isn’t a players’ walk-out), Taylor, Seager, and the many other free agents out there (including future Hall of Famers Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer) stand to do far better than only a one-year/$18.4 million deal. Additionally, because Taylor and Seager were given Qualifying Offers (which both declined), should either of them sign with another team, the Dodgers will receive a compensatory draft pick from the signing team(s).

Stay tuned…

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