Eedman was activated from the injury roster Tyler, the longest-serving fielder in Dodgers history, was released

With a series of roster changes on Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers are once again sending the signal from earlier this week: winning in the moment takes precedence over emotion.

Ahead of a 4-6 loss to their local rivals in the Highway Series finale, the Dodgers welcomed back key lineman Tommy Edman. In response, the team eliminated veteran tool Chris Taylor, a move that freed up a 40-man roster spot for right-hand backup pitcher Lou Trivino, who was promoted from triple-A Oklahoma City to the major leagues after Kirby Yates was named to the injury list with a right hamstring strain.

After cutting veteran backup catcher Austin Barnes earlier this week, Taylor briefly became the longest-serving field player in Dodgers history. Barnes' departure paved the way for the promotion of number one rookie Dalton Rushing.

"It's been an emotionally volatile week," said Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, "and Barnes and CT [Taylor's nickname] have been involved in many of the team's historic moments." Both have left an indelible mark on the team's culture. "

The timing of the lineup changes was even more surprising. Friedman admits that one of the reasons that prompted the Dodgers to make a move at this time was the current competitive dynamics in the National League West.

"The lesson of winning 106 games in 2021 and missing out on the division title is clear," Friedman said, "and the primary goal of the regular season is to win the division, which creates the best conditions for us to achieve our ultimate goal." "

The decision to part ways with Taylor, who is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million contract, suggests that even with Teoscar Hernández set to return on Monday, former KBO star Hyeseong Kim will still have a spot on the Dodgers' lineup.

The Dodgers started the season heavily right-leaning off the bench and consisted of Barnes, Taylor, Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas. With this week's adjustments, Kim Hye-sung and Rahim will continue to develop at the major league level, injecting left-handed balance into the roster.

"Obviously we're in a tight race," said head coach Dave Roberts, "partly because of the competitive dynamics and partly because of the need to continue developing new talent in the veteran team." "

Kim Hye-sung was called to the major leagues about two weeks ago when Edelman was on the injury list due to a right ankle inflammation, and at the time Roberts hinted it was only a temporary measure. But the South Korean quickly proved his worth, showing game-changing speed, silky defense, and batting skills against MLB pitchers.

As of Sunday, Kim Hye-sung had 31 hits, 14 hits (0.452) and an OPS of 1.065 in 14 games, defending second base and outfielders. His pitch tally is close to that of Taylor, who has 7 hits (0.200) from 35 in 28 games and has mostly played as a defensive substitute.

Taylor and Barnes saw Dodges win the World Series twice. Taylor, who shared the MVP of the 2017 National League Championship, has created tremendous value with his all-around skills since trading from the Mariners in June 2016.

"He was a role model for his profession," Friedman recalled, "and he was fully committed to the game, eager to improve, and worked deeply with the strike coach and the guard coach...... He is an important piece of the puzzle for the team's many successes. Whether as a player, teammate or worker, he is impeccable. "

The Dodgers are facing the dual challenge of maintaining team chemistry and bringing in top talent. Striking a balance between courtesy of veterans and the cultivation of new blood is always an imperfect science.

The difficult decisions made over the past few days have demonstrated the complexity of this balance.

"It's an absolute art to strike a balance between continuity and freshness," Friedman admits, "and every year we find the right balance." However, it is important to note that at the beginning of the season we did not anticipate these adjustments in May, and the situation is a matter of course. "