BLAKE TAYLOR NEWS

Invited to Rangers camp Taylor signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Impact Taylor spent all of last season with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate, where he put up a 5.15 ERA and 1.82 WHIP across 36.2 innings out of the bullpen. However, he boasts a 3.06 ERA across 79.1 frames in his major-league career and will have a chance to earn a spot in Texas' Opening Day bullpen.

JANUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Hits open market Taylor was released by the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Taylor's had trouble getting outs at Triple-A Sugar Land this season (5.15 ERA, 1.82 WHIP) and the team decided earlier this week to remove him from the 40-man roster. The southpaw made 51 appearances for the Astros in 2021, and he's held lefties to a .159/.260/.258 line in the majors, so he should land on his feet in another organization despite his struggles this year.

AUGUST 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Outrighted to Triple-A Houston outrighted Taylor to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Taylor was designated for assignment by the Astros on Monday and passed through waivers unclaimed. The 27-year-old has not appeared in a major-league game since 2022 and carries a 5.15 ERA through 36.2 innings of relief this season at Triple-A.

AUGUST 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pushed off 40-man roster The Astros designated Taylor for assignment Monday.

Impact Houston opted to swap Taylor off its 40-man roster in favor of another reliever in right-hander Jake Cousins (shoulder), whom the team claimed off waivers from the Brewers on Monday before activating him from the 15-day injured list and optioning him to Triple-A Sugar Land. Should he go unclaimed after hitting waivers himself, Taylor will likely stick around in the organization and join Cousins in the Sugar Land bullpen. Taylor made 92 appearances out of the Houston bullpen across the past three seasons but has pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level in 2023, submitting a 5.15 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 25:22 K:BB in 36.2 innings.

JULY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Activated, optioned to minors Taylor (elbow) was activated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Taylor did well in Triple-A during his rehab assignment, throwing 3.1 scoreless frames over four appearances. However, he will have to remain in the minors for the time being. If he maintains a high level of play, he could find himself back in Houston's bullpen at some point this season.

APRIL 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Beginning rehab assignment Taylor (elbow) is beginning a minor-league rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Sugar Land, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Taylor landed on the injured list just ahead of Opening Day after battling lingering elbow issues throughout the spring, but it would appear that the 27-year-old southpaw will be an option for the Astros' bullpen by the middle of April. Houston is currently carrying zero left-handed relievers.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Shifts to injured list Taylor (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.

Impact Taylor didn't appear in any spring training games due to a left elbow strain and isn't available to begin the season. He also missed time due to an elbow issue last year, and it's unclear how long he's expected to be sidelined.

MARCH 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Yet to enter game action Taylor (elbow) is throwing in camp but has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game, Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Taylor was bothered by an elbow injury in 2022, which limited him to 16 innings in Houston. He struggled mightily with his command by walking 10 batters, which resulted in an ugly 1.56 WHIP. It's unclear when Taylor may be able to return to the mound, though his absence opens the door for Matt Gage to make the Opening Day roster.

MARCH 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

33 players left in arbitration as 170 reach agreements

A total of 170 major league players agreed to contracts in the hours before Friday night’s arbitration deadline to exchange proposed salaries with teams, and just one reached a mul...

JANUARY 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Avoids arbitration Taylor and the Astros agreed on a one-year, $830,000 contract for the upcoming season Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Taylor and the team will avoid the arbitration process after settling on a salary for the 2023 campaign Friday. The reliever appeared in 19 games with the Astros last season, producing a 3.94 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 19 strikeouts over 16 innings pitched. The left-hander will likely remain a middle relief option for Houston in 2023.

JANUARY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Astros' Brown hurls 6 strong innings to beat hometown Tigers

Rookie Hunter Brown pitched six strong innings in his hometown and the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 6-3 on Tuesday

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tigers take home losing streak into matchup with the Astros

The Detroit Tigers aim to end their three-game home skid with a victory against the Houston Astros

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tigers host the Astros to start 3-game series

The Detroit Tigers host the Houston Astros to open a three-game series

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros and Angels meet, winner takes 3-game series

The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels meet on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series

SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros begin 3-game series with the Angels

The Houston Astros open a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rangers look to end slide in matchup with the Astros

The Texas Rangers enter the matchup against the Houston Astros as losers of eight in a row

SEPTEMBER 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Angels host the Astros to begin 3-game series

The Los Angeles Angels host the Houston Astros to open a three-game series

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rangers take home losing streak into matchup against the Astros

The Texas Rangers play the Houston Astros looking to stop a three-game home losing streak

AUGUST 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Orioles look to prolong win streak, take on the Astros

The Baltimore Orioles will attempt to keep a three-game win streak intact when they play the Houston Astros

AUGUST 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros take on the Orioles in first of 3-game series

The Houston Astros host the Baltimore Orioles to begin a three-game series

AUGUST 26, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros host the Twins, try to extend home win streak

The Houston Astros, on a six-game home winning streak, host the Minnesota Twins

AUGUST 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins look to end 3-game road losing streak, play the Astros

The Minnesota Twins visit the Houston Astros looking to end a three-game road losing streak

AUGUST 24, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins aim to end slide in game against the Astros

The Minnesota Twins enter the matchup against the Houston Astros as losers of three straight games

AUGUST 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pulled from rehab assignment Astros general manager James Click said Sunday that Taylor has been removed from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land due to posterior elbow discomfort, Chandler Rome of the...

Impact Taylor was placed on the injured list in early June with left elbow inflammation, but he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment Aug. 11. After his second appearance Tuesday for Sugar Land, Taylor's elbow was bothering him again, but Click suggested that the southpaw isn't dealing with a major setback. All tests on Taylor's elbow revealed nothing concerning, so the 27-year-old could be cleared to restart his rehab assignment after a few days of rest.

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Braves host the Astros on home winning streak

The Atlanta Braves, on a three-game home winning streak, host the Houston Astros

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS