Reports by Jon Heyman indicate that Chris Taylor and his agent have declined the qualifying offer that the Dodgers offered him, valued at $18.4 million for one-year.
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Chris Taylor has cemented himself as one of the players at the heart of the Dodgers’ organization. The team should pay slightly over market-value to retain CT3 because of the added value he brings specifically to the Dodgers and Dave Roberts. If the Dodgers cannot re-sign Corey Seager than Chris Taylor becomes that much more valuable to the Dodgers.
Chris Taylor is looking for more years on his contract
The $18.4 million for one-year is a good AAV (average annual value) for Chris Taylor, but by declining the qualifying offer, he wants a longer-term contract. Projections are showing that he is likely to receive a 3-5 year contract with an AAV of $13 – $16 million.
That’s a great value for the Dodgers considering that Chris Taylor can play virtually every position. If Seager leaves, Chris Taylor will find himself playing in center field most of the time but filling in at third base and second base quite frequently. And his bat is above average which is rare in a utility player.
No bad signs despite declining qualifying offer
Chris Taylor declining the offer is not a bad sign at all. In fact, it was somewhat expected. Of course, Corey Seager was an automatic no without having to put much thought into it. Seager is looking for a higher AAV and more years but the Dodgers sent him the offer just to have it rejected as an insurance policy.
Chris Taylor took longer than Seager to decline it because it was a somewhat enticing offer for him. $18.4 million is more than what teams are expect to offer CT3 per year. At the end of the day, it was a better career decision for Christ Taylor to look for a long-term deal.
Chris Taylor is playing it smart and safe
One can never know what will happen in the course of one year. Even though Chris Taylor has been extremely consistent and fairly healthy, that could all change in 2022. If he risks a one-year deal for more money, the best scenario would be that he performs how he usually does and ends up with ~$3 million more this season and a slightly higher AAV next year when he signs another contract.
Overall, Taylor could end up missing out on ~$20 million over the course of the next 4-5 years but that is only if everything had gone according to plan. But that is never the case, is it? Chris Taylor played it smart and safe by declining the qualifying offer.
It’s the Dodgers’ turn to make a move
The question now is will the Dodgers give him the 3-5 year deal he is looking for? I would hope yes.
