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Mariners Analysis: Updating the M’s Utility Infielder Position Battle
Chris Taylor
The 25-year-old has had a decent first half for the Mariners in Cactus League play, but he is definitely lagging behind Sardinas and O’Malley. Taylor is hitting just .259 with 3 doubles, 4 RBI and 1 stolen base across 14 games. He has struck out 6 times and nursed 1 walk in 27 at bats. These numbers are particularly disturbing when you account for the fact that much of his work has come against backups and minor-leaguers.
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Taylor split the 2015 season between the Mariners and the Tacoma Rainiers. He had a terrible time with Seattle, slashing .170/.220/.223 through 102 plate appearances. Taylor is never going to be a big time run producer, but he drove in just 1 run across 37 games with the M’s last year. However, Taylor was much more productive in Tacoma. He hit .300 with 4 home runs, 32 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 86 games with the Rainiers last season.
Defense has always been Taylor’s calling card. The University of Virginia alum has a very strong arm, and boasts a .966 career fielding percentage at shortstop. He has seen very little action at second base or third base during his career, but I believe he is more than capable of manning either position.
Next: Mariners 2016 Commercials Ranked
Personally, I have never been a fan of Chris Taylor as the M’s everyday shortstop, but I think his skill set fits perfectly as a utility infielder. However, he will need to step his game up over the final couple weeks of March if he plans on starting the season in Seattle.