The Los Angeles Angels signed veteran super-utility player Chris Taylor to a major league deal on Monday, starting him in center field and in the No. 8 spot of their lineup.

Taylor, 34, was released on May 18 after a more than nine-year stint with the crosstown Los Angeles Dodgers and sought an opportunity for more frequent playing time. With the Angels, he could become a regular in center field, a hole in their lineup ever since Mike Trout made the move to right field.

Kyren Paris, who had been spending most of his time in center, was optioned back to Triple-A in order to clear a spot for Taylor.

Paris, a second-round pick out of high school in 2019, looked like one of the sport’s breakout stars early on, posting a 1.514 OPS, hitting five home runs and stealing four bases through his first 12 games. But since then he has slumped badly. In the 31 games that followed, Paris posted a .116/.176/.179 slash line, striking out 52 times and drawing only five walks.

Taylor was a central figure on highly successful Dodger teams from 2017 to 2023, during which he slashed .256/.336/.444, put up 17.7 FanGraphs wins above replacement and saw frequent time at six different positions: left field, center field, right field, third base, second base and shortstop. He also provided several defining moments in October, serving as co-MVP in the 2018 National League Championship Series and hitting the walk-off home run in the 2021 wild-card game.

But Taylor slumped badly during the 2024 season, batting .202/.298/.300 in 87 games. And as the 2025 season played out, it quickly became clear he didn’t have a role on this era’s most star-laden Dodgers rosters. Taylor collected just 28 plate appearances over the course of 35 games with the Dodgers earlier this year, during which he collected seven hits and 13 strikeouts without drawing a walk.

On the Angels, Taylor can also be used at second base, relieving a slumping Luis Rengifo. If third baseman Yoan Moncada needs to miss more time on the injured list, Taylor can replace him too. The Angels also have Jo Adell as an option in center field.