It is never easy watching a fan favorite fade from the spotlight. But when the fall comes not from scandal and age, but from silent numbers, it hits differently. For a star who once embodied the Dodgers’ resilience, the quiet DFA felt less like closure and more like a glitch in the mental arc of the team’s current dynasty.
Then came the name-drop—unexpected, loaded, and oddly poetic. A competitor’s rumor, a flicker of possibility, and the same star cast off by blue and white had fans talking. Not because of his current performance, but because of what he still highlights. And in the Dodgers-Padres universe, where rivalries burn hotter, that possibility was enough to ignite something far larger than a roster move.
He is not in the game. And he does not need to be. For years, Chris Taylor quietly covered every inch of the Dodgers’ field, showed up in big moments, and carved out a place in a stacked lineup. When the team hoisted two World Series trophies in 2020 and 2024, Chris Taylor was there, sleeves rolled up. But now?
The star is without a team, discarded in a move that felt as cold as it was analyzed.
Taylor’s DFA was not shocking. It was just sad. The data can highlight the tale: A 72 OPS+ last year and a worse 29 OPS+ across 28 games this year. For the Dodgers chasing perfection, there was no room for sentiment.
How would you react if Chris Taylor joined the San Diego Padres next?
After getting DFA’d by the Dodgers, CT3 could be joining another team soon…
Per Dennis Lin, The Athletic pic.twitter.com/LJUdC4vQ9z
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) May 22, 2025
However, fans were not ready to forget the star. From highlight reels to heartstrings, Chris Taylor is still getting attention. He was not just another roster cut—he was CT3. That is why, when rumors of the star joining the Padres surfaced, it was not just sports news. It was personal.
Cue the chaos.
“How would you react if Chris Taylor joined the San Diego Padres next?” Dodgers Nation posted on X with another shocking update: “After getting DFA’d by the Dodgers, CT3 could be joining another team soon…”
Then came The Athletics’ Dennis Lin. “The Los Angeles Dodgers released Chris Taylor, making him a hypothetical candidate to address the Padres’ left-field woes…”
Now, that is where it gets tricky: This is not just any landing place. It is the Padres. The Dodgers’ NL West competitor. Think about the fiery postseason clashes, the bench-clearing tensions. Now, imagine Taylor suiting up in brown and gold after leaving the blue. That is a headline in itself.
Yet… could it fit? Chris Taylor carries defensive versatility, leadership, and playoff experience. Such aspects are desperately needed by the Padres as the team is struggling to stabilize left field. And even if the star’s bat has cooled off, Chris Taylor’s game sense has not. He is the type of star that winning teams do not mind taking a chance on.
And well, fans are excited, or were they?
Fans sound off as Chris Taylor sparks buzz after Dodgers exit
The Dodgers could have moved on from Chris Taylor, however, fans certainly have not. After the buzz around joining the Padres, social media turned into a lively debate hall, and it is now split between support and skepticism.
One fan effectively highlighted the open-market reality. “Taylor can sign with any team that wants him.” That is true because being designated for assignment says that he is free to go wherever he is wanted. While the star’s production has dropped, Chris Taylor’s résumé still appeals to teams looking for playoff-tested utility depth. He still has a career batting average of .250, 108 home runs, and 433 RBI. In a market always waiting for affordable and versatile stars, Taylor’s name carries weight.
Others were not as diplomatic. One fan said, “Disgusting. The Dodgers still owe $13 million next year for him. He can play for the Padres in 2027.” It is a fair point. 2025 is supposed to be his final season at LA, and he still owes around $13.4 million from the $60 million deal. So definitely, the thoughts of paying a star to potentially support a divisional competitor sting. And while the Dodgers’ willingness to still let him go reinforces just how far the star’s production had fallen, it also shows how quickly fan frustration can ignite when competitor colors enter the picture.
But surely, not all reactions were hostile. Another fan reminded all that “He is free to go wherever he wants,” focusing on his right to choose his next chapter. This taps into a vital truth: Baseball is business. While competitors fuel passion, stars have short windows to earn. Taylor, at 34, is trying to be relevant. Whether with the Padres or some other team, he has earned that shot.
While most reactions zeroed in on the Padres or Dodgers, another fan commented with a bit more chill: “Outta sight, outta mind… not to mention it’s a business and I hope CT3 hooks on with anybody but the Rockies.” That mix of realism and competitiveness says it all. Fans understand how the league wheel turns—stars move on, teams add new names, and mental connections fade fast. However, in such pragmatism, there is still room for playful loyalty. The Rockies shoutout? Classic NL West shade. No hard feelings, unless it is them.
Still, not all saw Southern California as Taylor’s best landing place. One shared, “Nope. CT3 belongs in Seattle. Make it happen @Mariners!” That is not random. Chris Taylor is a native of Virginia Beach however, he played college ball at the University of Virginia. The Mariners could utilize his glove-first versatility, and unlike the Padres, the team would not trigger that rivalry backlash.
The Dodgers could have closed the chapter on Chris Taylor, however, fans and other teams are not done reading the star’s story. Wherever Taylor lands, the reactions prove one thing: CT3 still matters. If you are checking on this saga, buckle up, Taylor’s next move could be as surprising as his rise. Keep watching, and keep the takes coming.
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