Taylor signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.
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.
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Blake Taylor: Hits open market
Rotowire
Taylor was released by the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
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.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Houston outrighted Taylor to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
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.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Pushed off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Astros designated Taylor for assignment Monday.
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.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Activated, optioned to minors
Rotowire
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.
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.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) is beginning a minor-league rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Sugar Land, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
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.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Shifts to injured list
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.
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.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Yet to enter game action
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) is throwing in camp but has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game, Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle reports.
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.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Taylor and the Astros agreed on a one-year, $830,000 contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The left-handed 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. Taylor will likely remain a middle relief option for Houston in 2023.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Optioned following activation
Rotowire
Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.
Taylor had been sidelined since June 3, and he will continue to get back in game shape in the minors. Manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Taylor is in consideration for a spot on Houston's postseason roster, and he'll be helped by the fact that he's a southpaw in a bullpen otherwise lacking lefty options. Prior to hitting the injured list, Taylor struggled to a 3.94 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 9:10 K:BB across 16 innings in the majors.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Activated Tuesday
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
He has been on the shelf since June 3 and gave up two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out five in five innings through five rehab appearances. Taylor should work in low-to-mid leverage positions down the stretch.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Resumes rehab assignment
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) was cleared to resume his rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday and has given up two earned runs on two hits and two walks over 1.2 innings in his two appearances.
Taylor was pulled off the assignment for approximately two weeks after dealing with posterior elbow discomfort, but the lefty is in the process of ramping up again. Expect Houston to use most of the 30-day rehab window to evaluate Taylor before activating him from the 60-day injured list later this month.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Pulled from rehab assignment
Rotowire
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 Houston Chronicle reports.
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.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Exits rehab appearance early
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) left his rehab assignment for Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday after facing just two batters and throwing just 10 pitches, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Taylor has been out with elbow inflammation since early June. Friday's outing marked his third rehab appearance, but things didn't go well, as his fastball was sitting 89-90 mph, well below his season average of 92.6. Whether he's suffered a specific setback or just needs a bit more time to keep building up is not yet clear.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with the Astros' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Taylor has been out with elbow inflammation since early June, but he resumed throwing in late July and has now been cleared to return to game action in the minors. He'll presumably require several rehab appearances before he's in the mix to rejoin the Astros.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Starts throwing program
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) started a throwing program at the Astros' spring training complex Thursday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
He has been sidelined with elbow inflammation since early June. Now that Taylor is throwing again, the Astros will likely ramp him up slowly given the nature of his injury.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Shifts to 60-day injured list
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Taylor has been out with elbow inflammation since early June. He didn't have a clear timetable for his return, but he'll now be ineligible for activation before early August.
Astros' Blake Taylor: Diagnosis updated to inflammation
Rotowire
Taylor's elbow injury is now being called inflammation rather than discomfort, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The new diagnosis pushes back Taylor's potential return date, but he's at least avoided an injury serious enough to require surgery. When exactly he's expected to be back is unclear, however.
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Astros' Blake Taylor: Visiting doctor
Rotowire
Taylor (elbow) will visit a doctor Monday to receive a more specific diagnosis, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Taylor hasn't thrown since leaving his outing Friday against the Royals with what has been referred to as left elbow discomfort. A clearer timeline for his return should become clear once his diagnosis is clarified.
