Winning two World Series titles and coming through in key moments doesn’t necessarily secure a spot on the Dodgers’ roster.
This week, backup catcher Austin Burns found that out the hard way.
Then, on Sunday, veteran utility player Chris Taylor faced a similar fate.
The Dodgers designated Taylor for assignment after he had played over 1,000 games with the team, contributing to their World Series victories in 2020 and 2024.
This decision came just four days after Burns also received a DFA as the organization’s top prospects are being promoted to the majors.
Taylor, now 34, has only made 35 plate appearances this season across 28 games, with a .200 batting average and a low OPS of 0.457.
However, from 2017 to 2023, he was a fixture in the Dodgers lineup, featured in more than 100 games each full season during that span, including 56 games in both infield and outfield roles during the shortened 2020 season.
He was named co-MVP of the NLCS in 2017 and made a memorable contribution in a wild card game four years later with a home run during a crucial moment.
In 2021, he hit four homers in 11 playoff games, then added four more during the Dodgers’ championship run last year.
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, described the week as very emotional for the team. “Burnsey and CT were integral to significant moments for this organization,” he told reporters. “Both have left a lasting impact on our culture and our current state. So making this decision was incredibly difficult, and the discussions were challenging as well.”
He added, “But considering our position in the division race and the overall roster dynamics, this was something we felt needed to be addressed.”
As of Sunday, the Dodgers were 29-17, leading the Padres by one game in the NL West, with the Giants and Diamondbacks close behind in what has been a highly competitive division during the early season.
