Is this Kyle Isbel’s last stand?

A few years ago, I decided to die on a very thankless hill: defending Michael A. Taylor.

The argument was simple. No, Taylor was not a good starting center field. But the 2021-22 Royals had maybe two starting position players at any given moment. And as far as guys that shouldn’t be starting on major league teams go, Taylor was as good as you could ask for.

Taylor was worth 5.8 rWAR and 3.9 fWAR in his two years with Kansas City. Both were the 2nd best marks by a Royals position player during that span. He did all that while posting a .661 OPS and an 81 wRC+.

He shouldn’t have been a starter. He was born to be a fourth outfielder. But the vitriol he faced for being as good as a fourth…