Disappointing 2024 Pirates outfielder unsurprisingly signs with White Sox

On the eve of pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, one former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder has found a new home on an 11th-hour deal.

As first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided, former Pirates center fielder Michael A. Taylor has agreed to a contract with the Chicago White Sox for 2025. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Taylor's deal is for one year at $1.95 million with performance bonuses.

Former Pirates outfielder Michael A. Taylor signs one-year deal with White Sox

Taylor, a former Gold Glove winner with the Kansas City Royals, is widely acknowledged to be one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. From 2015 to 2024, he ranks third among all Major Leaguers with 78 Defensive Runs Saved in center.

Taylor's offense, however, is another story. He has some pop in his bat, but he strikes out a lot. His performance at the plate was very up-and-down over the last two seasons between the Minnesota Twins and the Pirates. He slashed a below-average .220/.278/.442 with the Twins in 2023, which was offset slightly by his defensive play in center field, his career-high 21 home runs and his 13 stolen bases.

Taylor's offensive production went downhill in a hurry after he signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Pirates in 2024. In 300 plate appearances across 113 games with Pittsburgh, he produced an abysmal slash line of .193/.253/.290. The Pirates ended up designating Taylor for assignment and releasing him during the final week of the season.

Before winning a Gold Glove with Kansas City in 2021, Taylor also won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. For his 11-year career, he has hit .235/.290/.381 with 100 home runs and 353 RBI. He has reached double-digit home runs just four times in his career and could probably have earned another Gold Glove or two if his weak hitting hadn't kept him from being an everyday starter for much of his career.

It's hard to imagine Taylor being more than a pinch runner or a late-inning defensive replacement with the White Sox – unless, of course, he suddenly has the best offensive season of his career at age 34 (which would be very on-brand for the Pirates).

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