Mets' Tyrone Taylor's helping his trade value with red-hot stretch
Mets' Tyrone Taylor singles during the eighth inning against Atlanta at Citi Field on Monday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
There’s hot at the plate. And then there’s Tyrone Taylor hot.
“I don’t have a great answer to best explain about [him] being hot,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said after Taylor turned in yet another heavy-hitting game in Monday night’s 14-3 win over Atlanta at Citi Field. “But [he’s] smoking hot right now.”
It couldn’t have come at a better time for the last-place Mets.
They’re going to be selling before the clock hits 6 p.m. on Monday for the trade deadline, and Taylor’s righty bat, fast-moving legs, good glove, strong arm, high character and expiring contract could be sent elsewhere.
So his value in the marketplace should be rising along with his rising production. But he claims not to be pondering what might happen.
“I’m just bracing for each moment here,” Taylor told reporters after Sunday’s 8-3 win over the Dodgers. “I’m trying to do my best to help the team win here. Not thinking anything of that at all besides just being present.”
The 32-year-old outfielder, not known for his offensive ability, missed a month with a right hip flexor strain. Taylor went on the injured list on May 26 and came off on June 26.
Since then, this part-time player has a slash line of .410/.477/.974 with four doubles, six homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.451 OPS in 19 games.
He didn’t get any hits Tuesday night, though. The Mets and Atlanta were postponed due to a very stormy forecast. They will play a split doubleheader Wednesday at 1:10 and 7:10 p.m.
By going 16-for-39 since returning from the IL, his average has moved from .202 to .250 for the season, and he’s up to .239 for his eight-year career. This season, he owns nine homers, 26 RBIs and a .799 OPS in 62 games.
Taylor sent up the go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning Sunday. And then he had another three-run shot among his three hits against Atlanta to help the Mets take consecutive games for the first time since July 8 and 9.
“Tyrone Taylor continues to do some impressive stuff,” Green said before praising “his great at-bats” in this stretch.
“If he swings and misses, it doesn’t impact the next swing. He’s hitting the ball out front. He’s damaging the baseball. It’s really impressive.”
“He’s impressed me as a person for years now, the type of teammate he is, the type of way he goes about his work,” Green added. “I can’t imagine anybody wouldn’t love having him on their team. And he really defends the field.”
Taylor indeed carries respect inside the Mets’ clubhouse, his home clubhouse since the start of the 2024 season after coming over from the Brewers.
“He’s such a good guy, always positive,” Marcus Semien said after the latest win. “Even through the tough times this year, he’s the same guy.
“He’s found something that’s working for him right now. He’s got some good rhythm at the plate. He’s pulling the ball very well. He used the middle of the field [Monday night], too. He’s definitely making it tough on the opponents right now.”
Francisco Lindor can provide any interested team with a character reference, too.
“The guy’s a great teammate, great person, great family man,” Lindor said following his own two-homer, six-RBI game in the series opener. “He understands his role and he’s really good at it. He doesn’t complain. He goes out there and plays the game the right way day in and day out. Gives us a chance to win every single day.
“We’re all super happy for him . . . We all cheer for each other, but for him we all cheer a little louder. I think it’s just the type of person he is.”
Notes & quotes: Clay Holmes, another candidate to be traded, allowed two hits and two walks and struck out three in four scoreless innings Tuesday night for St. Lucie against Dunedin in his second rehab outing … Reliever Austin Warren followed Holmes and began his rehab assignment with a scoreless inning …Syracuse manager Dick Scott has taken a leave of absence. The Mets issued a statement: “He underwent surgery due to a cancer diagnosis in his kidney. He has had successful surgery and is on his way to a full recovery. His goal is to return to the team before the end of the season.”
