The New York Yankees made a move to help bolster their starting rotation. New York acquired Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates. In return, the Pirates received four minor league prospects from the Yankees, pitchers Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras, infielder Maikol Escotto and outfielder Canaan Smith will all become Pirates.
With J.A. Happ leaving to join the Minnesota Twins and Masahiro Tanaka’s future with the Yankees uncertain, New York turned to Taillon. The former Pirates starting pitcher last pitched in 2019 when he went to 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA in seven starts. Taillon is recovering from Tommy John Surgery on his right elbow, which was his second. He had the surgery in August of 2019, and this on schedule to return in 2021 with the Yankees.
In the 2018 season, Tailon won 14 games for the Pirates. He went 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts. Taillon pitched 191 innings and struck out 179 batters. The Yankees hope Taillon will regain his 2018 form coming off surgery.
In four years, Taillon has posted a 29-24 record with a 3.67 ERA, 466 innings pitched and struck out 419 batters. Taillon is under contract for $2.25 million for the 2021 season and has one more year of arbitration in 2022 before entering free agency.
Lamarr Fields is a Contributor for Unwrapped Sports Network. Follow him on on Twitter @raiderway83