Padres Lose Out on Free Agent Outfielder to NL Central Team: Reports

The veteran center fielder would have boosted the Padres' defense.

Free agent outfielder Michael A. Taylor, whom the Padres were reported to be talking to this week, is in agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year, $4 million contract according to multiple reports.

News of the agreement was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN:

Center fielder Michael A. Taylor and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on a one-year, $4 million contract, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 15, 2024

Taylor, 32, is a career .239 hitter with 95 home runs, 332 RBIs, and 108 stolen bases across parts of 10 major league seasons. 

Best known for his defense, Taylor has compiled 11 Wins Above Replacement in his career largely on the strength of his glove. Last year with the Minnesota Twins, Taylor slashed .220/.278/.442 in 129 games, hitting a career-high 21 homers.

Taylor previously played with the Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals, with whom he won his only Gold Glove award in 2021.

The Padres traded center fielder Trent Grisham and left fielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in December, leaving right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. as the lone returning outfielder on the team's major league roster heading into spring training.

Fortunately, prospect Jackson Merrill has transitioned quickly to the outfield from shortstop in his first major league spring training camp with the Padres. He traveled with the team to Korea on Thursday, and could be in the outfield when the Padres open the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 20.

Jose Azocar and Jurickson Profar are the only other outfielders on the Padres' travel roster to South Korea for the season opener.