The New York Yankees added another rebounding candidate to their initial rotation Sunday, and acquired Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four minor league prospects.
Pittsburgh hosted pitchers Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras, playing field Maikol Escotto and outfielder Canaan Smith, both teams have announced.
Taillon, 29, was the No. 2 overall pick in 2010 and won 14 games for the Pirates in 2018. But the right-back appeared in just seven games in 2019 and lost all last season while he was recovered. from Tommy John’s surgery to the throwing elbow.
The Yankees agreed to trade less than two weeks after signing Corey Kluber, winner of the Cy Young Award, who won twice the seasons damaged by injuries.
Taillon, who has spent his entire career in the Pirates organization, tweeted Sunday that it was a “bittersweet day” for him.
Bittersweet day for me here! Trying to process it all, I have a lot to say to the city of Pittsburgh and my colleagues. Also have a lot to say about this amazing opportunity and the city / New York fans. Thanks to everyone who has arrived! More will come soon
– Jameson Taillon (@ JTaillon50) January 24, 2021
Taillon and Kluber, if healthy, could provide the Yankees with the experience and depth needed in their rotation behind ace Gerrit Cole.
With the uncertain future of free agent Masahiro Tanaka and veteran teammate JA Happ after joining the Minnesota Twins, New York could face the scarcity of initial pitching options tested after Cole.
In addition to Taillon and Kluber, among the other candidates for the Yankees rotation is left-wing Jordan Montgomery, who has appeared in just 12 games since Tommy John’s surgery in 2018, young Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt, ex -star Luis Severino, who missed all last season due to surgery by Tommy John and Domingo German, who also missed the entire 2020 season while serving a suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy
Taillon is scheduled to return in 2021 after recovering from the August 2019 operation, which was Tommy John’s second surgery on his right elbow.
The trade marks the final step in a rebuild for the Pirates, who also gained multiple prospects in previous low-season trades that sent All-Star baseman Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals and starting pitcher Joe Musgrove to the San Diego Padres.
Pirate manager Derek Shelton told reporters last month that any trade would be done “to improve the pirates going forward.”
As for the Yankees, the trade also brings together a pair of former teammates in Taillon and Cole, who were both potential Pittsburgh organization and played alongside the Pirates in 2016 and 2017.
Taillon recently launched into the major categories in 2019, when he went 2-3 with an ERA of 4.10 in seven starts. He went 14-10 with an ERA of 3.20 the previous season.
Taillon, who is hired for $ 2.25 million in 2021, also lost time during the 2017 season while battling testicular cancer. His first Tommy John surgery was performed in 2014, when he launched into the Pirates ’minor league system.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.