MICHAEL A. TAYLOR NEWS

Released by Pittsburgh The Pirates released Taylor on Wednesday.

Impact Taylor was booted from the 40-man roster earlier this week and has now been cut loose. The veteran outfielder will head into free agency after hitting just .193/.253/.290 over 300 plate appearances for the Pirates this season.

SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates DFA OF Michael A. Taylor, 1B Rowdy Tellez Out of postseason contention, the Pittsburgh Pirates designated outfielder Michael A.Taylor and first baseman Rowdy Tellez and recalled outf...

SEPTEMBER 24 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Designated for assignment The Pirates designated Taylor for assignment Tuesday.

Impact Taylor had started just one of the previous 13 games and will finish the year slashing only .193/.253/.290 over 300 plate appearances. The 33-year-old's roster spot will be absorbed by Joshua Palacios.

SEPTEMBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Breaks homer drought Taylor went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Nationals.

Impact Taylor has started consecutive games with lefties on the mound, though he hasn't been in the lineup against a right-hander since Aug. 25. He did manage to pop his fifth home run of the season and first since July 30 with lefty Patrick Corbin on the mound Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Shifting back to bench role Taylor will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Impact Though he'll enter the lineup for the series finale, Taylor didn't start in any of the previous three contests and looks like he'll operate mainly as a fourth or fifth outfielder moving forward. With Andrew McCutchen returning from the injured list Friday and taking back primary duties at designated hitter, Oneil Cruz is now likely to see the bulk of his starts in center field moving forward, closing off Taylor's main path to playing time.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Shifting back to bench role Taylor will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Impact Though he'll enter the lineup for the series finale, Taylor didn't start in any of the previous three contests and looks like he'll operate mainly as a fourth or fifth outfielder moving forward. With Andrew McCutchen returning from the injured list Friday and taking back primary duties at designated hitter, Oneil Cruz is now likely to see the bulk of his starts in center field moving forward, closing off Taylor's main path to playing time.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Still on roster, starting Tuesday Taylor will start in center field and bat eighth in Monday's game versus the Cubs.

Impact Taylor was placed on outright waivers Sunday, but he went unclaimed and will remain on the Pirates' active roster for the time being. Oneil Cruz's move to center field for Pittsburgh is imminent, but he will serve as the designated hitter for the second game in a row Tuesday while Taylor patrols center field.

AUGUST 27 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on waivers The Pirates placed Taylor on outright waivers on Sunday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Impact Taylor will now be available to be claimed by the 29 other teams in the league, though he may not have many suitors based on his .196/.257/.284 slash line over 250 at-bats in 100 games with the Pirates this season. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, the outfieler will either report to Triple-A Indianapolis or be released outright.

AUGUST 25 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from lineup again Taylor is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Cincinnati.

Impact Taylor has struck out in 11 of his last 18 plate appearances, and he will sit for a second straight game. Ji Hwan Bae will start in center field and bat ninth.

AUGUST 24 • ROTOWIRE

Getting night off Taylor is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

Impact After starting seven of the Pirates' last eight games, Taylor will take a seat Friday. In his place Ji Hwan Bae will bat ninth and play center field.

AUGUST 23 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Tuesday's lineup Taylor is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.

Impact Taylor started the previous six games but will receive a day off after going 6-for-23 with two walks, two doubles and three runs during that span. Ji Hwan Bae will take over in center field and bat ninth Tuesday in San Diego.

AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE

Back on bench in Bae's return Taylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Taylor had started in center field in each of the Pirates' last four games, but he'll likely shift back into a short-side platoon role now that the lefty-hitting Ji Hwan Bae (knee) is back in the lineup Sunday. After he was withheld from the lineup in each of the past four contests while managing knee discomfort, Bae made an appearance off the bench in Saturday's 4-2 win and checked out fine, so he'll get the green light to start in the series finale.

AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE

Homers again Tuesday Taylor went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

Impact Taylor gave the Pirates some breathing room with his sixth-inning homer. He's doubled his homer total for the year over the last two days, hitting one in each of his last two games to give him four on the year. The veteran outfielder is up to a .209/.269/.314 slash line with 19 RBI, 26 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 216 plate appearances. If he can build on his recent improvements at the plate, Taylor will likely see an increased role.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Homers again Tuesday Taylor went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

Impact Taylor gave the Pirates some breathing room with his sixth-inning homer. He's doubled his homer total for the year over the last two days, hitting one in each of his last two games to give him four on the year. The veteran outfielder is up to a .209/.269/.314 slash line with 19 RBI, 26 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 216 plate appearances. If he can build on his recent improvements at the plate, Taylor will likely see an increased role.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Michael A. Taylor's latest homer lifts Pirates over Astros again Michael A.Taylor homered for the second consecutive game and left-hander Bailey Falter excelled in his return from the injured list as the v...

JULY 31 • SUNHERALD.COM

Slugs key homer in win Taylor went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win over the Astros.

Impact Taylor put the Pirates ahead with his ninth-inning blast. The outfielder could be in line for extra playing time after Joshua Palacios (hamstring) and Ji Hwan Bae (knee) left Monday's contest early. For the season, Taylor has a .209/.269/.299 slash line, three homers, 17 RBI, 25 runs scored and nine steals over 212 plate appearances.

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs key homer in win Taylor went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win over the Astros.

Impact Taylor put the Pirates ahead with his ninth-inning blast. The outfielder could be in line for extra playing time after Joshua Palacios (hamstring) and Ji Hwan Bae (knee) left Monday's contest early. For the season, Taylor has a .209/.269/.299 slash line, three homers, 17 RBI, 25 runs scored and nine steals over 212 plate appearances.

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Michael A. Taylor's homer lifts Pirates past Astros Michael A.Taylor clubbed a tiebreaking three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to help the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates cap a 5-3 v...

JULY 30 • KANSASCITY.COM

Picks up steal in loss Taylor went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Impact Taylor entered Friday just 1-for-15 with four walks over his last nine games. He was able to make a small impact from the bottom of the order, though his playing time will likely drop again once Bryan Reynolds returns from the bereavement list. Taylor is slashing just .200/.264/.278 with two home runs, eight steals, 13 RBI and 24 runs scored through 205 plate appearances this year.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Homer, four hits in win Taylor went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in a 14-2 win over the Mets on Friday.

Impact Taylor tallied three singles and hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to highlight a perfect night at the plate Friday. This outburst was certainly a surprise, as he went just 5-for-34 in June and had not homered since May 11. On the season, the outfielder is hitting .210 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 21 runs scored and six runs scored over 181 plate appearances.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Homers among four hits in win Taylor went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in a 14-2 win over the Mets on Friday.

Impact Taylor tallied three singles before hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning to highlight a perfect night at the plate Friday. This outburst was a positive turnaround since he went just 5-for-34 in June and had not homered since May 11. On the season, the outfielder is hitting .210 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 21 runs scored and six stolen bases over 181 plate appearances.

JULY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Looking to run Taylor went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Impact Taylor drew a rare start in center field with a righty on the mound, shifting Jack Suwinski to the bench. It also marked just the second time in five games that Taylor has started since he returned from paternity leave. However, in that span he has stolen three bases, doubling his total for the season.

JUNE 13 • ROTOWIRE

'Defense doesn't slump,' as Taylor's glove gives Bucs golden results This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf's Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regula...

JUNE 1 • MLB.COM

Sitting again Thursday Taylor is out of the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Giants, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Ji Hwan Bae has started in center field against two right-handers since he was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier this week, with Taylor getting the call versus the lone lefty. Taylor has now been on the bench versus a righty in four straight games, so he could be falling into the short side of a platoon with the lefty-hitting Bae.

MAY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Sunday Taylor is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus Baltimore, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Taylor is working as Pittsburgh's primary center fielder to begin the season, though he finds himself on the bench Sunday for the second straight game. Jack Suwinski will shift to center field while Bryan Reynolds and Connor Joe start in left and right, respectively.

APRIL 7 • ROTOWIRE