A full-circle moment has been playing out in Los Angeles. In 2023, Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, leaving behind the Angels. And moving in the exact opposite direction is Dodgers’ (now former) veteran. He was DFA’d by the Dodgers and moved to the cross-town rivals—the Angels. Apparently , the Dodgers couldn’t wait to make space for their $74 million utility player.

Chris Taylor, the Dodgers’ former utility man, has moved to Southern California after signing with the Los Angeles Angels for a $760,000, one-year contract. This decision activated Dodgers’ $74 million versatile sparkplug Tommy Edman. Manager Dave Roberts once addressed Edman as the player whose value lies in his ability to do the little things right.

Meanwhile, there was a time when Taylor was a part of the Dodgers’ championship runs. Now that he was traded to the cross-town rivals, many have dubbed this scenario a ‘reverse Ohtani move.’ It’s oddly contradictory when you think it out loud.

Ohtani, in 2023, moved to the Dodgers with a 10-year, $700 million contract, which was then the highest contract value in the league. The contrast here couldn’t be any sharper. From the championship-contending team, Taylor was moved to the Angels, who are currently 25-28, coming off a 1-5 loss to the New York Yankees. It was a straight, bitter path for him.

Chris Taylor struggled for a permanent position throughout his 9-year long tenure with the Dodgers. Now, he’s just seeking more on-field time with the Angels. And, well, that did happen.

During his first outing with the Angels on Monday night, he played center field and batted eighth against the Bronx Bombers in Anaheim, California. He went 0-for-3 along with two strikeouts as the Angels fell to 5-1 in the end.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers, after releasing Taylor, have Tommy Edman back, who missed 16 games due to ankle inflammation. 29-year-old Edman is currently batting .252 with 8 homers and 24 RBIs. He is back in his infield/outfield position. So, the Dodgers got what they intended. Anyway, Taylor’s move was bitter but for the best. He wanted it to happen!

Let’s hear it from Taylor how he feels after parting ways with the Dodgers.

Dodgers’ former veteran’s first comments after his release

Chris Taylor nearly spent a decade in Dodgerland. After his exit, the longtime utility man opened up about his departure. “It was emotional. I’ve been on the Dodgers for nine years, but I do believe it was time for me.”  Turns out, he’s right. But no matter what, the Dodgers are arguably one of the best MLB teams in the league. Transitioning from a championship-contending team to an average team wouldn’t be a cakewalk for him.

However, the veteran’s stance was clear. He wanted more play time than the Dodgers could offer. With Angels, he’s meeting what he desired—more playtime. “It was my time to kind of start fresh, you know, hopefully turn the page, start a new chapter. I’m excited to do that here,” he added, speaking with reporters on Monday. He embraces the new path with the Angels.

With the Dodgers, he only got 35 plate appearances. He hit 7-for-35 with 13 strikeouts, and started just 6 of the 28 games he appeared in. Addressing Taylor’s move across the town, Dave Roberts subtly said, “I respect him for betting on himself.”

Well, just to let you know, Taylor still has $16 million guaranteed from the Dodgers.

A few days ago, the Dodgers also designated another long-tenured player, Austin Barnes, for assignment. It brings a significant change to the Dodgers’ veteran core. So, what do you think about the shifts Roberts is making?