Taylor (elbow) is starting in left field and batting eighth in Friday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
The veteran outfielder was sidelined nearly a week due to right elbow inflammation but is ready to retake the field for Friday's spring contest. Luis Robert is locked in as the White Sox's primary center fielder, but Taylor should still see semi-regular starts when Robert gets a breather, even as the DH or with a full day off, thanks to his elite defense.
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White Sox's Michael Taylor: Expected back later this week
Rotowire
Manager Will Venable said Sunday that Taylor (elbow) is expected to return to Cactus League play before the end of this week, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Taylor had to be scratched from Saturday's lineup due to right elbow inflammation and it sounds like he'll need a couple more days of rest before getting back into games. The 33-year-old projects to be a reserve outfielder for the White Sox this season, although Andrew Benintendi's (hand) impending injured list stint could lead to increased reps for Taylor early on.
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White Sox's Michael Taylor: Scratched Saturday
Rotowire
Taylor was scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's Cactus League game versus Seattle due to right elbow inflammation, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The severity of Taylor's injury isn't immediately clear, though the White Sox will likely offer more information on his condition at some point. In the meantime, Wilfred Veras will step in to play right field while batting ninth.
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White Sox's Michael Taylor: Lands in Windy City
Rotowire
Taylor signed a one-year, $1.95 million contract with the White Sox on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The 33-year-old Taylor is coming off the worst season of his career at the plate, during which he slashed .193/.253/.290 with five homers, 21 RBI and 12 stolen bases across 300 plate appearances with the Pirates. That being said, he still boasts one of the best center-field gloves in the majors, which should be enough to buy him regular playing time and cause Luis Robert to work as a DH more often in 2025.
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Michael Taylor: Released by Pittsburgh
Rotowire
The Pirates released Taylor on Wednesday.
Taylor was booted from the 40-man roster earlier this week and has now been cut loose. The veteran outfielder will head into free agency after hitting just .193/.253/.290 over 300 plate appearances for the Pirates this season.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Pirates designated Taylor for assignment Tuesday.
Taylor had started just one of the previous 13 games and will finish the year slashing only .193/.253/.290 over 300 plate appearances. The 33-year-old's roster spot will be absorbed by Joshua Palacios.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Breaks homer drought
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Nationals.
Taylor has started consecutive games with lefties on the mound, though he hasn't been in the lineup against a right-hander since Aug. 25. He did manage to pop his fifth home run of the season and first since July 30 with lefty Patrick Corbin on the mound Sunday.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Shifting back to bench role
Rotowire
Taylor will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Guardians.
Though he'll enter the lineup for the series finale, Taylor didn't start in any of the previous three contests and looks like he'll operate mainly as a fourth or fifth outfielder moving forward. With Andrew McCutchen returning from the injured list Friday and taking back primary duties at designated hitter, Oneil Cruz is now likely to see the bulk of his starts in center field moving forward, closing off Taylor's main path to playing time.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Still on roster, starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Taylor will start in center field and bat eighth in Tuesday's game versus the Cubs.
Taylor was placed on outright waivers Sunday, but he went unclaimed and will remain on the Pirates' active roster for the time being. Oneil Cruz's move to center field for Pittsburgh is imminent, but he will serve as the designated hitter for the second game in a row Tuesday while Taylor patrols center field.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Placed on waivers
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Taylor on outright waivers Sunday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Taylor will now be available to be claimed by the 29 other teams in the league, though the outfielder may not have many suitors after compiling a .196/.257/.284 slash line over 280 plate appearances in 100 games with the Pirates this season. If he goes unclaimed, Taylor could remain on the Pirates' roster since he can refuse an outright assignment to the minors due to having accrued more than five years of MLB service time.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Absent from lineup again
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Cincinnati.
Taylor has struck out in 11 of his last 18 plate appearances, and he will sit for a second straight game. Ji Hwan Bae will start in center field and bat ninth.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Getting night off
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.
After starting seven of the Pirates' last eight games, Taylor will take a seat Friday. In his place, Ji Hwan Bae will bat ninth and play center field.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Out of Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.
Taylor started the previous six games but will receive a day off after going 6-for-23 with two walks, two doubles and three runs during that span. Ji Hwan Bae will take over in center field and bat ninth Tuesday in San Diego.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Back on bench in Bae's return
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Taylor had started in center field in each of the Pirates' last four games, but he'll likely shift back into a short-side platoon role now that the lefty-hitting Ji Hwan Bae (knee) is back in the lineup Sunday. After he was withheld from the lineup in each of the past four contests while managing knee discomfort, Bae made an appearance off the bench in Saturday's 4-2 win and checked out fine, so he'll get the green light to start in the series finale.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Homers again Tuesday
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.
Taylor gave the Pirates some breathing room with his sixth-inning homer. He's doubled his homer total for the year over the last two days, hitting one in each of his last two games to give him four on the year. The veteran outfielder is up to a .209/.269/.314 slash line with 19 RBI, 26 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 216 plate appearances. If he can build on his recent improvements at the plate, Taylor will likely see an increased role.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Slugs key homer in win
Rotowire
Taylor went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win over the Astros.
Taylor put the Pirates ahead with his ninth-inning blast. The outfielder could be in line for extra playing time after Joshua Palacios (hamstring) and Ji Hwan Bae (knee) left Monday's contest early. For the season, Taylor has a .209/.269/.299 slash line, three homers, 17 RBI, 25 runs scored and nine steals over 212 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Picks up steal in loss
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Taylor entered Friday just 1-for-15 with four walks over his last nine games. He was able to make a small impact from the bottom of the order, though his playing time will likely drop again once Bryan Reynolds returns from the bereavement list. Taylor is slashing just .200/.264/.278 with two home runs, eight steals, 13 RBI and 24 runs scored through 205 plate appearances this year.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Homers among four hits in win
Rotowire
Taylor went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in a 14-2 win over the Mets on Friday.
Taylor tallied three singles before hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning to highlight a perfect night at the plate Friday. This outburst was a positive turnaround since he went just 5-for-34 in June and had not homered since May 11. On the season, the outfielder is hitting .210 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 21 runs scored and six stolen bases over 181 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: First start since activation
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base Saturday against the Twins.
Taylor was away from the team from Tuesday to Thursday while on paternity leave, with Saturday marking his first start since being activated. It was a productive effort, but he figures to serve in a short-side platoon role behind Jack Suwinski in center field.
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Pirates' Michael Taylor: Back from paternity leave
Rotowire
The Pirates activated Taylor from the paternity list Friday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Taylor missed the Pirates' series with the Dodgers earlier this week while tending to more important matters, but he's back on the roster for a weekend set versus the Twins. He's not, however, included in Friday's lineup, as Jack Suwinski will patrol center field. Taylor should see regular starts in center field against left-handed pitching.
