After going unsigned for the entirety of the offseason, former Gold Glover Michael A. Taylor has signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jeff Passan of ESPN had the news on social media:
Center fielder Michael A. Taylor and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on a one-year, $4 million contract, sources tell ESPN.
This ends a frustrating offseason for Taylor, who hadn't found work despite being connected to the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox and others this winter.
The 32-year-old Taylor offers solid defense and also brings in some offensive value. He hit 21 homers for the Twins in 2023 and also drove in 51. He stole 13 bases and is still a threat on the basepaths.
Taylor just finished up his 10th year in the big leagues with the Nationals, Royals and Twins. His best year overall was with the 2017 Nationals, when he hit 19 homers and drove in 53. He was also part of the 2019 Nationals team that beat the Houston Astros in the World Series. His Gold Glove came with the Royals.
He's one of many veterans that the Pirates have signed this year, including Aroldis Chapman, Martin Perez, Rowdy Tellez, Yasmani Grandal and Eric Lauer. Furthermore, they traded for left-handed starter Marco Gonzales.
This has all been done in an effort to help the Pirates compete throughout the entirety of the 2024 season. Pittsburgh was in first place for a portion of 2023 but then faded quickly once June hit and ended up finishing in fourth in the National League Central.
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