Tyrone Taylor is consistently driving up his trade value as the Major League Baseball trade deadline nears. The New York Mets center fielder hit a three-run home run on Sunday against the Dodgers, continuing a remarkable stretch since returning from the injured list late last month.
In the 18 games since his return, Taylor has posted a 1.327 OPS, putting a difficult spring and a right hip flexor strain behind him. "A lot of belief, swinging with aggression, swinging with intent to do damage, not letting a bad swing impact his next swing," interim manager Andy Green said of Taylor's recent performance. "It’s been fun to watch him… the next couple days against lefties too. So he’s earned obviously more playing time, and he’s been huge for us."
Despite the Mets' 44-62 record, Sunday's 8-3 win marked a positive moment, and the team may look to capitalize on the in-form 32-year-old. Taylor has not attributed his success to drastic changes since coming off the IL, stating, "Nothing too crazy."
Amidst trade speculation, Taylor said he is focusing on staying "present" and not dwelling on the approaching deadline. Green echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team's focus on immediate performance. "We’re here today, we played to win a baseball game. We’ll do the same thing tomorrow."
Taylor's home run on Sunday was his fifth of the month, adding to his appeal for potential trade partners. His defensive reliability in center field is complemented by his success against left-handed pitchers this season, where he holds a .292/.303/.569 slash line with 11 RBIs. He was also a regular starter for the Mets team that reached the NLCS in 2024.
Sunday's game could have been one of his last appearances for the Mets, but his recent play has made a strong case for his value to the front office.