The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded starting pitcher Jameson Taillon to the New York Yankees in exchange for four prospects. The Yankees are beefing up their rotation after they have already signed Corey Kluber earlier this offseason.
Taillon was just the next Pirates player to be traded after they have already traded Joe Musgrove in a three-team trade that took place earlier this offseason. The Yankees wanted to add starting pitcher depth, and to add Taillon; they parted ways with four of their prospects.
On the trade, the Yankees send RHP Miguel Jajure, RHP Roansy Contreras, INF Maikel Escotto, and OF Canaan Smith. The trade was reported on Twitter via Jeff Passan of ESPN:
The New York Yankees have acquired Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, Maikel Escotto and
Canaan Smith, sources tell ESPN.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 24, 2021
In 2020 Taillon did not see the field after having to undergo Tommy John Surgery. The year before, in 2019, Taillon only made seven starts where he totaled 37.1 innings pitched while posting a 4.10 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Turning back time to 2018, Taillon was much better in a “full season” where he made 32 starts, posted a 14-10 record totaling 191 innings pitched. He had a 3.20 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP for the Pirates and was successful on the mound.
The Yankees are hoping that Taillon can get back to that level of performance after Tommy John Surgery and add depth to their rotation. The same rotation that is anchored by Gerrit Cole on his monster contract from the last offseason.
