Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman Wants to See Chris Taylor Back With LA One Day
Few players have left as lasting a legacy with the Los Angeles Dodgers as Chris Taylor. The versatile utility man, a staple of LA’s success for much of the past decade, may no longer be donning Dodger blue, but that doesn’t mean the door is closed on his time in Los Angeles. President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman recently shared heartfelt sentiments about Taylor’s impact on the organization—and made it clear that a reunion down the road remains very much on the table.
In the high-turnover world of Major League Baseball, players come and go with increasing regularity. But some leave an imprint that endures, becoming part of the team’s cultural and emotional DNA. Chris Taylor is one of those rare players, and Friedman’s comments signal both admiration and a genuine desire to see Taylor back with the franchise, either on the field or in another capacity.
Chris Taylor wasn’t a top draft pick or a headline-making free agent when he arrived in Los Angeles. Acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in June 2016 in exchange for pitcher Zach Lee, Taylor was a relatively unheralded infielder. But under the Dodgers’ player development system and coaching staff, Taylor blossomed into a key contributor, eventually becoming a Swiss Army knife in the field and a dangerous bat in the lineup.
Taylor’s breakout came in 2017, a season that saw him slash .288/.354/.496 with 21 home runs while playing six different positions. That year, he helped lead the Dodgers to the World Series, earning NLCS co-MVP honors alongside Justin Turner. Over the next several seasons, he became one of the team’s most valuable and reliable players, contributing in virtually every phase of the game.
“Chris has been everything you want in a Dodger,” Friedman said recently. “He’s smart, selfless, and incredibly hardworking. Players like him are rare.”
Taylor’s importance only grew in the postseason. Perhaps no moment better encapsulates his value than his walk-off home run in the 2021 National League Wild Card Game against the St. Louis Cardinals—a dramatic blast that kept the Dodgers’ playoff hopes alive and cemented his legend among LA fans.
After eight seasons in Los Angeles, Taylor entered the 2025 season facing increasing competition for playing time. The Dodgers’ ever-deepening roster, filled with young talent and high-priced stars, made it difficult for Taylor to maintain an everyday role. Eventually, a mutual understanding led to a change of scenery. Though Taylor moved on to pursue a larger role elsewhere, there was no bitterness—only mutual respect.
“That was one of the hardest conversations I’ve had in this job,” Friedman admitted. “Chris meant so much to our clubhouse, to our staff, and to the culture we’ve built here. But he also deserved a chance to play more regularly, and we weren’t in a position to offer that.”
Taylor’s departure was handled with grace and class, both on the organization’s part and Taylor’s. He left the Dodgers with 97 home runs, 370 RBIs, and countless clutch moments in high-stakes situations. He also brought unmatched versatility, playing every position except pitcher and catcher during his time in Los Angeles.
When asked recently whether Taylor might find his way back to the Dodgers, Friedman didn’t hesitate.
“I absolutely hope so,” he said. “Whether it’s as a player, a coach, or a part of the front office—we’d welcome Chris back with open arms. He embodies what we value as an organization.”
These comments are more than just lip service. The Dodgers have a long history of bringing former players back into the fold, whether in coaching, scouting, or player development roles. Names like Andre Ethier, Shawn Green, and even Nomar Garciaparra have maintained ties to the franchise long after their playing days ended.
Taylor, who’s widely respected around the league not just for his play but for his intelligence and leadership, seems a perfect candidate to continue that tradition.
“It’s not just about what he did on the field,” Friedman continued. “It’s the example he set every day—for younger players, for the staff, for everyone in the organization. Chris was a culture-setter.”
While not always the loudest or most visible star, Taylor’s legacy in Los Angeles is secure. He represented the embodiment of the Dodgers’ modern approach to baseball: flexible, analytical, and unselfish. In many ways, he was the glue guy—the one who did whatever was asked of him and always came through when it mattered most.
Fans will always remember his postseason heroics, his clutch hits, and his spectacular catches. But for those inside the clubhouse, Taylor’s influence ran even deeper. Teammates routinely pointed to him as one of the most respected voices in the locker room, someone who led by example rather than volume.
His willingness to accept new roles, to play through pain, and to do the little things that don’t always show up on the stat sheet endeared him to coaches and players alike.
“There are a lot of guys with talent,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But there aren’t many guys like CT. He’s the kind of player every team wants. He’s the kind of person every team needs.”
Now playing elsewhere, Taylor is continuing to contribute in meaningful ways. His bat may not be as explosive as it once was, but his knowledge of the game and his steady presence make him an asset to any team. And while he remains focused on the current season, Taylor himself hasn’t ruled out a return to Los Angeles someday.
“LA will always be home to me,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s where I became the player I am today. I’ve got nothing but love for the Dodgers organization and the fans. Who knows what the future holds?”
It’s the kind of comment that gets fans dreaming—and for good reason. A Taylor return would be a feel-good story for a franchise that values continuity and culture as much as talent.
Whether it’s one last run as a utility player or a future position in the dugout or front office, there’s a strong belief inside Dodger Stadium that Taylor’s story with the team isn’t finished yet.
When we talk about the great Dodgers of the 2010s and early 2020s, names like Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, and Justin Turner often dominate the conversation. But no history of that era would be complete without Chris Taylor. His fingerprints are all over the most successful run in modern franchise history—including three National League pennants and the 2020 World Series title.
He’s the kind of player you appreciate more the longer he’s gone. His absence creates a subtle but undeniable void—one that Friedman and others in the Dodgers organization are clearly aware of.
“He’s one of the most impactful players we’ve had here—not just because of what he did statistically, but because of how he did it,” said Friedman. “He made everyone around him better. That’s rare.”
One of the reasons Taylor may fit so naturally into a future role with the Dodgers is his aptitude for mentorship. Even in his final seasons in LA, he took younger players under his wing, helping them adjust to the expectations and routines of big-league life. His quiet leadership style resonated with rookies and veterans alike.
With his understanding of the game, his even-keeled demeanor, and his experience at nearly every position on the diamond, Taylor seems tailor-made for coaching, scouting, or even front office work. Friedman’s comments hint at a long-term vision—one where Taylor continues to shape the Dodgers’ future, even if not on the field.
Unsurprisingly, fans have responded to Friedman’s comments with enthusiasm. Social media lit up with calls to “Bring CT3 Home,” and a number of longtime Dodgers fans expressed hope that Taylor will eventually retire as a Dodger.
The emotional bond between Taylor and the fanbase is real. He was never the biggest star, but he was often the heartbeat of the team. In a city that appreciates hard work, humility, and clutch performances, Taylor became a fan favorite not through flash but through substance.
For many, his departure felt like losing a family member—not because it was acrimonious, but because it was just that emotional.
In professional sports, goodbyes are often permanent. But every so often, a story gets a second chapter. With Andrew Friedman’s recent comments, it’s clear that Chris Taylor’s time with the Dodgers may not be over after all.
Whether he returns as a player, a coach, or in some other capacity, one thing is certain: there’s a spot waiting for him in Los Angeles.
As Friedman put it, “Once a Dodger, always a Dodger. And Chris Taylor is the epitome of that.”
For fans, teammates, and the entire Dodgers family, the hope is that Taylor’s next Dodgers chapter is just around the corner.
