Dodgers: Best trades of the Andrew Friedman era

Dodgers acquire Chris Taylor for Zach Lee

When the Dodgers traded former first round pick, Zach Lee, to the Seattle Mariners for Chris Taylor, it seemed like an insignificant move that marked the franchise’s lost hope in Lee more than their eagerness to acquire Taylor. The deal has turned into one of the most lopsided returns in Friedman’s tenure.

Having not hit a home run in 86 games for the Mariners, Taylor has hit 51 long balls over the past three plus seasons with the Dodgers. The right-handed utility-man has become an integral piece in the franchise’s recent success.

Meanwhile, Zach Lee, has never reached the potential that led the Dodgers to sign him to a $5.25 million signing bonus out of high school. The former two-sport athlete, who showed promise in Triple-A Oklahoma City for the Dodgers in 2015, fell off the map following the trade to Seattle. He went 0-9 with an embarrassing 7.39 ERA for their Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma to close out the 2016 season.

Chris Taylor reached the apex of his Dodgers career (so far) in the 2017 postseason when he won the National League Championship Series MVP, along with Justin Turner, in the team’s five-game series win over the Chicago Cubs. Taylor hit .316 during that series with two home runs.

He has been instrumental in several postseason series for Los Angeles. He also hit .364/.462/.500 in the 2018 NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Taylor is currently slated to start the 2020 season on the Dodgers bench with the outfield now jam-packed with the addition of superstar Mookie Betts. However, Taylor’s versatility allows him to find plenty of at-bats at other positions, including the infield, where he could spell rookie Gavin Lux against left-handed pitchers.