Samad Taylor Clears Waivers, Outrighted To Triple-A
Seattle Mariners infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor cleared waivers and was outrighted off the 40-man roster to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday. Taylor was recently designated for assignment but will remain in Seattle's organization for now. The 26-year-old former 10th-round draft pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2016 only played in three games with the M's in 2024 and went 2-for-5 with a strikeout and two runs scored. He debut in the majors in 2023 with the Kansas City Royals and saw action in 31 games. In his time with Tacoma last year, Taylor slashed .262/.352/.380 with a .732 OPS, 11 home runs, 75 RBI, a career-high 50 stolen bases and 93 runs scored in 599 trips to the plate over 136 games played. Speed is what stands out with Taylor, but if he makes it back to the big leagues in Seattle in 2025, it will be as a utility man off the bench.
According to the team, the Seattle Mariners have designated second baseman Samad Taylor for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for catcher Blake Hunt who the team acquired on Wednesday. Taylor has appeared in 34 big league games over the previous two summers. During his small stint, he has held a .215/.288/.277 line. However, through 295 career contests at the Triple-A level, the infielder has posted a solid .273/.370/.417 line with 52 doubles, 28 home runs, and 116 stolen bases. Given his lack of production at the major league level, fantasy managers should expect Taylor to spend most of the 2025 campaign in the minor leagues.
The Seattle Mariners acquired infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor from the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. With the move, Seattle's 40-man roster is now full. The 25-year-old will now head to the Mariners after being traded for the third time in his career. He made his major-league debut in 2023 with the Royals and struggled, going 12-for-60 (.200) with no home runs, four RBI, eight stolen bases and 22 strikeouts in 69 plate appearances over 31 games played. However, Taylor slashed a strong .301/.418/.466 with eight home runs and 43 stolen bases at Triple-A Omaha last year and has elite speed on the basepaths. Taylor is likely to open the year at Triple-A Tacoma, but his speed and defensive versatility should make him a bench option in Seattle at some point in 2024.
The Kansas City Royals recalled infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor from Triple-A Omaha on Friday and optioned infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton to Omaha in a corresponding move. Taylor, the team's No. 19 prospect per MLB Pipeline, gets his first call to the big leagues after slashing .304/.409/.463 with an .871 OPS, 16 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 37 RBI, 34 stolen bases and 50 runs scored in 291 plate appearances over 62 games for Omaha this year. The 24-year-old's major draw is his speed, but he can also hit, and fantasy managers need take notice if he finds his way into the Royals' lineup on a regular basis. For a second baseman, Taylor has a pretty intriguing mix of power and speed.
Kansas City Royals second base prospect Samad Taylor went 3-for-3 with a home run and walk for Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday. Taylor, 24, is now hitting a healthy .305 with five home runs, 36 RBI and 31 stolen bases. Taylor was one of the pieces acquired from the Blue Jays for Whit Merrifield last year and offers an exciting blend of power and speed out of the second base position. With the Royals getting little production at the keystone, it only makes sense for the club to give Taylor an opportunity at some point this year. His speed can be helpful to managers and he is worth keeping an eye on in all formats.
Kansas City Royals infield prospect Samad Taylor is coming off a strong opening series in which he went 6-for-14 with a triple and homer, all while driving in six runs and stealing two bases. It was promising to see him post strong offensive results after he seemed to regress at the plate in 2022. Taylor was on the move last summer when the Royals acquired him from the Blue Jays in exchange for Whit Merrifield. This midseason move could have had an impact on the infielder's subpar numbers at the plate, and it also indicates that he could get back on track with a smoother, less chaotic season ahead of him. Despite being undersized at 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, Taylor is an aggressive, toolsy player who can generate bat speed and put the ball in play. What he lacks in power, he makes up for with speed, allowing him to hustle around the basepaths quite naturally. Additionally, Taylor has the range and glovework needed to stick in the middle of the infield (likely second base) long-term.
Samad Taylor
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Mariners
