Mariners GM: Trading Chris Taylor 'clearly the worst deal I've ever made'

Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry DiPoto can only wonder what might have been as he's watched Chris Taylor break out as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Taylor was sent to the Dodgers in June 2016 in exchange for pitcher Zach Lee, who never played an inning for the Mariners before being placed on waivers last December. Meanwhile, Taylor has blossomed in L.A. - much to DiPoto's chagrin.

"It's clearly the worst deal I've ever made," DiPoto told Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times. "And it resonates every time he hits a home run."

Taylor hit 21 homers in the regular season and has tacked on three more during the Dodgers' run to the World Series. He also slashed .288/.354/.496 with 34 doubles and 85 runs scored this year while solidifying himself as the team's leadoff hitter ahead of October.

The 27-year-old also spent time playing wherever the team needed him - whether it was the infield or outfield - earning a reputation as a bit of a Swiss Army Knife.

"I whiffed. There’s no other way to categorize it," DiPoto added. "He’s young, he was under club control - that was one I wish I could undo."

In DiPoto's defense, Taylor never distinguished himself as a top bat at the MLB level with Seattle, though he only played in 86 games there. In that time, he slashed .240/.296/.593 and didn't even hit his first home run until he was dressed in Dodger Blue.

Los Angeles may have hit the jackpot with Taylor, who isn't arbitration eligible until 2019, and won't be a free agent until 2022. And if he continues to rake, that production will likely continue to haunt DiPoto.