As they had to add a starting pitcher despite their limited luxury tax space, the Yankees exchanged with the Pirates for righthanded Jameson Taillon. In return, New York sent four prospects to Pittsburgh. Let’s assess the trade.
The agreement
Acquire Yankees: RHP Jameson Taillon
Acquire Pirates: RHP Miguel Yajure, RHP Roansy Contreras, INF Maikol Escotto and OF Canaan Smith
Review on the part of the New York deal
The Yankees added their already volatile starting rotation with another pitcher with a high upside coming out of a serious injury. Taillon did not throw in 2020 while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. Injuries and testicular cancer surgery have sometimes slowed his career progress, but Taillon, 29, is still young and talented enough to live up to his front-end entry-level potential.
How exciting a prospect was Taillon? The Pirates chose him second overall in the 2010 MLB draft, between two of the game’s biggest stars, Bryce Harper (No. 1) and Manny Machado (No. 3). He had two serious injuries to the minors – his first Tommy John surgery (2014) and hernia surgery (’15) – before making his MLB debut in ’16 when he made 18 starts and a 3.38 ERA and 7, 4 strikeouts per nine. In July, he was hit in the head with a 105 mph line drive, but he was allowed, perhaps unwise, to stay in the race.
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He started strong in 2017 before undergoing surgery to remove a mass on one of his testicles in early May. At the time he was wrote on Twitter: “Today I lost part of my ‘manhood’. But today I feel more like a man than ever. “Five weeks later he returned to the mound. In ’19 he took another line drive off his head.
Still, Taillon is excellent when he threw without interruption. In 2018, he went 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA with 8.4 K / 9 across 32 starts, including two complete games (one shutout). He made seven starts in ’19 before injuring his arm again and needing his second Tommy John surgery. His then-teammate, right-handed Trevor Williams, said at the time, “We are entering him for Comeback Player of the Year 2021.” That could be a smart prediction – in the American League.
Actually, the Yankees have at least two Comeback candidates in their rotation. Less than two weeks ago, they signed two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, who has been limited to just 36 2/3 innings for the past two seasons due to injuries. Luis Severino, their one-time ace, starts the year on the injured list, but is expected sometime in 2021 after undergoing surgery on Tommy John last February. Echoing the exchange for Taillon, the New York opening days rotation projects look something like this:
1. Gerrit Cole, RHP
2. Corey Kluber, RHP
3. Jameson Taillon, RHP
4. Jordan Montgomery, LHP
5. Deivi García, RHP / Domingo Germán, RHP
As I wrote last Thursday, after the shortest season in history, it is risky for the Yankees to rely on so many pitchers who are either young or returning from injury, or both young and returning from injury. But after trading for Taillon, the Yankees may be better equipped than most to deal with these concerns. In addition to García, their best prospect, the Yankees also have respected judges Clarke Schmidt and Michael King who could fill a rotation spot if necessary.
Recently, a scout who saw Taillon convalescing after Tommy John’s surgery, told The athleticLindsey Adler says that Taillon “might be a # 2 when it’s all said and done.”
Taillon will make $ 2.25 million this year and he won’t be a free agent until after the 2022 season. That, and four good prospects, is a fitting price for a pitcher who, even after his second Tommy John operation, could be one of the better starters in the league.
Grade: B +
Judging the Pittsburgh side of the deal
With their low payroll, past last place finishes and recent trades, the Pirates are clearly in rebuild mode.
Already off-season, they’ve traded slugger Josh Bell to the Nationals and right-handed Joe Musgrove to the Padres. It was only natural that they would also negotiate Taillon, with two years of club control to go before the season started.
For Musgrove, their best pitcher last year, the Pirates received a package of four prospects, notably 19-year-old midfielder Hudson Head, their No. 6 prospect, per MLB.com. Considering Taillon is coming off his second Tommy John surgery, Pittsburgh has done quite well with his return from the Yankees.
Miguel Yajure, 22, has four plus throws, with a good command and a fastball that comes in at 97. He should be ready to enter the Pittsburgh rotation at some point this season. Roansy Contreras, 21, has three solid throws, although his potential is more like a deep piece than a front or middle spin starter. Canaan Smith, 21, is a powerful left-handed corner outfielder and infielder Maikol Escotto, 18, has impressive raw power, even though he’s a long way from the big leagues.
Grade B