ANAHEIM, CA — Chris Taylor’s tenure with the Dodgers came to an emotional end on May 18, closing a nine-year chapter filled with postseason heroics, clutch hits, and two World Series titles. Just over a week later, Taylor has found a new home—and it’s right down the I-5 freeway.
The Angels officially signed Taylor to a one-year deal on Monday, offering the veteran utility man a chance to reboot his career while paying him the prorated MLB minimum. The Dodgers will cover the remainder of his $15 million salary for 2025.
“Obviously I’ve been with the Dodgers for nine years. But I do believe it was time,” Taylor told The Athletic‘s Sam Blum. “It was my time to kind of start fresh, and hopefully turn the page and start a new chapter. I’m excited to do that here.”
Taylor’s final seasons in Dodger Blue were marked by a steep drop in production. After hitting just .202 with a .598 OPS in 2024, he began this season with a mere seven hits in 35 at-bats, striking out 13 times without drawing a walk. It was a tough decline for a player once considered one of the most versatile and reliable members of the Dodgers’ roster.
Still, his track record as a postseason contributor and clubhouse presence made him an appealing low-risk pickup for the Angels, who are trying to stay afloat amid injuries and inconsistent outfield play.
“He brings experience. It’s something we need in there,” said Angels manager Ron Washington, via the same piece in The Athletic. “He’s been through the wars. He’s a good piece for those young guys to talk to. He’s been in the grind over there in L.A. And we want that. We’ve seen him play, and we’re going to give him an opportunity to see what he’s got left.”
Washington wasted no time penciling Taylor into the starting lineup, slotting him into center field for his Angels debut on Monday. Though that role could shift once Mike Trout returns from injury, Taylor is expected to take reps across both the outfield and infield, with second base likely being a key spot moving forward. In his first start for the Halos, the new CT3 looked a lot like the old CT3, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his debut.
For Taylor, the move to Anaheim is more than just a change of scenery—it’s a chance to prove that his best baseball isn’t behind him. He believes poor swing mechanics, not physical decline, were at the root of his struggles. Now healthy and rested, Taylor is optimistic about the road ahead.
“I feel like I have a lot to prove to myself,” Taylor said to Blum. “I haven’t performed to how I feel I’m capable of playing the last couple seasons. I want to turn that around.”
Taylor may not be the long-term answer, but he’ll certainly have more opportunity than he did in his final months with the Dodgers. With the addition of Tommy Edman, Kike Hernandez, and Hyeseong Kim, the role of “Swiss Army Knife” that Taylor played so ably for so many years was pretty much filled, limiting Taylor to mop-duty in blowouts, the baseball equivalent of garbage time.
Taylor also won’t be alone. Former Dodgers Kenley Jansen and Tyler Anderson are both in Anaheim and welcomed the reunion.
“Yeah, C.T. man, it’s awesome man,” Jansen told The Athletic. “When you have a longtime teammate like that coming up, to be back playing with you is awesome. I’m happy to hear that he’s back. It’s nice. It’s nice to have him back. Hopefully he gets his time and showcases who he is.”
Taylor’s role with the Dodgers may be over, but his story in Southern California baseball isn’t finished yet. And for longtime Dodger fans who cheered him through October after October, there’s hope he finds his swing again—even if it’s while wearing a different color.
Good Luck in Anaheim, CT3!
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