Royals trade infielder Samad Taylor, who had memorable MLB debut, to Seattle Mariners
The Kansas City Royals traded infielder Samad Taylor to the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Taylor, 25, hit .200 with four RBIs and eight steals in 31 games with the Royals. He made his MLB debut on June 17, 2023, against the Los Angeles Angels. Taylor helped the Royals snap a 10-game losing streak with a walk-off single at Kauffman Stadium.
Taylor drove home Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia. The baseball landed on the outfield warning track as the Royals celebrated their third walk-off victory of the season.
It was a special moment as Taylor’s family was in attendance. Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. was also an unsung hero. He raced to retrieve the baseball from center field and handed it to Taylor after the game.
This offseason, the Royals are moving in a different direction. KC signed veterans Adam Frazier and Garrett Hampson in free agency. Both players can play second base and the corner outfield spots.
The free-agent signings required a roster move. Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said the decision to trade Taylor came down to a preference of having five left-handed hitters available on the roster.
“Those moves are never really easy,” Picollo said. “We really liked Samad Taylor, and we liked what he brought to the table. He’s a good teammate. He’s athletic. There is a speed component to his game. There’s a versatility part to his game that we liked. ... In this case, you know, he’s a right-handed hitter. So, that was the difference.”
The Royals acquired Taylor from the Toronto Blue Jays. He was a part of the Whit Merrifield trade at the 2022 MLB trade deadline.
Taylor split time between Triple-A Omaha and Kansas City. He had eight home runs, 55 RBIs and 43 steals in Omaha.
“We want nothing but the best for him because he deserves it,” Picollo said. “He’s worked hard, and I want him to do well.”
This story was originally published January 30, 2024 at 6:42 PM.
