The LA Dodgers are coming up with something unheard of! If their signing spree is not enough, they are now offering security to their long-tenured guys, projecting the team as the ultimate destination for players. All offseason long, the Dodgers have been at the receiving end of MLB fans accusing them of poaching all the big names and creating a disparity with other teams but now their perceived gesture towards veteran Chris Taylor is worth praising. 

Chris Taylor will complete his 10-year stint with the Dodgers late this season and was part of various historical milestones of the team. He is now 34 and expectedly his performance is on a downward trend but that hasn’t made the Dodgers release him. Rather, it seems more likely that they will offer him a place on the team till he completes 10 years of service to get eligible for MLB pension. It takes a lot for a team to commit these to their players and the Dodgers are doing just that.

Taylor ended his 2024 season with 4 HRs and 23 RBIs, enough for the Dodgers to give him a release but they are reportedly holding him to let him pass the 10 year service period. The Dodgers might release him late this season but only after completing his 10-year tenure. A great gesture to the veteran!

As pointed on X by Dodgers Daily, the Blue team has done it for players like Nike Ahmed before and might do it for Austin Barnes next year. “The Dodgers want to become THE destination for Free Agents, and there is no better way to do that than to continue to strengthen the narrative that this organization takes care of its players better than anywhere else. Keeping players to let them hit milestones, benchmarks, and service time for pensions is a gold mine on this front.”

The Dodgers are certainly creating new benchmarks in the MLB circuit and getting benefitted from an extended talent pool. Remember Sasaki’s statement after joining the LA Dodgers this year? He opted for the Dodgers because he felt he would best develop there. The Dodgers with these player-centric approaches are creating irresistible value to the free agents and fending off the competition. All these the Dodgers are doing while getting the desired on-field performance. What could be sweeter than this?

Multiple options lie ahead for Chris Taylor

It is almost certain that Chris Taylor will be released late this season once his 10 years are complete. In this case, the best destination for him would be the other part of Los Angeles: the Angels! Getting into 2025, the Angels have landed a few veterans, and the versatility of Taylor to play in different positions can be a key for them. On the other hand, the Dodgers are set to become the ultimate destination for free agents.

It does take a lot for any team to offer such benefits to their players. For the Dodgers, it is easier to get things done due to their deep-pockets, which might not work with the low-tier teams. Nevertheless, the Dodgers are setting the bar high; players do need to check for their security before joining a team and it is a reality check for others to bring up their game to sustain. The Dodgers are not only posing a threat in their on-field performance but also they are reshaping the status quo of MLB. 

More bigger names are expected to join the Dodgers in the coming time and it will continue till other teams bring something new. Till then, the fans can expect the domination of the Dodgers both on-field and off-field. 

What do you think about the Dodgers becoming the ultimate destination for free agents? Share your thoughts with us.