Nationals

Ex-National Michael A. Taylor signs two-year extension with Royals

Nationals

Michael A. Taylor is locked into his new home.

The former Nationals outfielder has signed an extension to stay with the Kansas City Royals through the end of the 2023 season, the team announced Wednesday. Per MLB Insider Jeff Passan, Taylor's new deal is worth a total of $9 million.

Taylor, 30, spent the first seven seasons of his professional career with the Washington Nationals, lauded mostly for his defensive prowess in center field. He played in 574 total games for the Nats. One of his most notable moments was an incredible diving catch to seal a 7-3 victory for Washington over the Dodgers to clinch the NLDS in 2019. Taylor would hoist the World Series trophy weeks later.

Taylor signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Royals in November of 2020 and made an immediate splash. In his first game in Kansas City on Opening Day, he finished with one run, three hits (including a 402-foot bomb), and a team-leading three RBI to go along with two outfield assists. In 137 games with the Royals this season, Taylor has batted .244 with 12 homers, 56 runs and 52 RBI.

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