Needing to add another initial pitcher despite their limited luxury tax space, the Yankees traded with the Pirates for right-winger Jameson Taillon. In return, New York sent four potential customers to Pittsburgh. Let’s qualify the craft.
The deal
The Yankees acquire: RHP Jameson Taillon
The pirates acquire: RHP Miguel Yajure, RHP Roansy Contreras, INF Maikol Escotto and OF Canaan Smith
Evaluate the New York treatment side
The Yankees added to their already volatile initial rotation with another high-pitched pitcher who came out of a serious injury. Taillon did not jump in 2020 while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. Injuries and testicular cancer surgery have sometimes slowed his progress throughout his career, but Taillon, 29, is still young enough and talented enough to tap his early potential.
What such an exciting prospect was Taillon? The Pirates picked him second in the 2010 MLB draft, among two of the game’s biggest stars, Bryce Harper (No. 1) and Manny Machado (No. 3). He had two serious minor injuries – Tommy John’s first surgery (2014) and hernia (“15”), before making his MLB debut on the 16th, when he made 18 appearances and posted an ERA of 3.38 and 7.4 times for nine. That July, he was hit in the head with a 105 mph line, but, perhaps recklessly, he was allowed to stay in the game.
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He started strong in 2017 before being operated on in early May to remove a mass from his testicle. At that moment, he he wrote on Twitter, “Today I lost a piece of my“ manhood. ”But today I feel more like a man than ever.” Five weeks later, he returned to the mound.On the 19th he pulled another line out of his head.
Still, Taillon has been excellent as long as he has pitched uninterrupted. In 2018, it went from 14 to 10 with an ERA of 3.20 with 8.4 K / 9 in 32 starts, including two full games (one close). He made seven starts on the 19th before injuring his arm again and needing Tommy John’s second surgery. His then-teammate, right-hander Trevor Williams, said at the time, “We’re writing him as a player of the year back, 2021.” That could be a smart prediction: in the American League.
In reality, the Yankees have at least two candidates in the return. Less than two weeks ago, they signed Cy Young winner Corey Kluber twice, who was limited to just 36 2/3 innings in the last two seasons due to injury. Luis Severino, his only ace, will start the year on the injured list, but Tommy is expected to be operated on again in 2021 last February. After the Taillon trade, the rotation of the opening day of New York looks 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’s risky for the Yankees to depend on so many pitchers who are young or come back from injury, or are young and come back from injury. But after being quoted by Taillon, the Yankees are perhaps better equipped than most to deal with these concerns. In addition to Garcia, their top prospect, the Yankees also have the well-regarded rights of Clarke Schmidt and Michael King who could fill a rotating position if necessary.
Recently, an explorer who saw Taillon rehabilitate from Tommy John’s surgery, he said AthleticLindsey Adler says Taillon “can be number 2 when all is said and done.”
Taillon will earn $ 2.25 million this year and will not be a free agent until after the 2022 season. This, and four good prospects, is a fair price to pay for a pitcher who, even after his second surgery of Tommy John, could be one of the best starters in the league.
Grade: B +
Pittsburgh side of the deal
With their low payrolls, recent deals and recent transactions, hackers are clearly in rebuild mode.
Already in this low season, they have changed the slugger Josh Bell to the nationals and the right Joe Musgrove to the Padres. It made sense that they would also deal with Taillon, with two years left in control of the club, before the season began.
For Musgrove, their top pitcher last year, the Pirates received a package of four prospects that included, most notably, 19-year-old outfielder Hudson Head, their No. 6, for MLB.com. Considering Taillon is coming off his second Tommy John surgery, Pittsburgh did pretty well with his return from the Yankees.
Miguel Yajure, 22, has four more pitches, with good dominance and a fast ball that exceeds 97. He should be ready to join the Pittsburgh rotation at some point this season. Roansy Contreras, 21, has three solid throws, though his potential is more like a depth piece than a front-to-middle rotating starter. Canaan Smith, 21, is a powerful left-wing camper and 18-year-old Maikol Escotto football field has impressive gross power, although he is a long way from the big leagues.
Grade: B