Yankees Acquire Jameson Taillon in Trade With Pirates
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Jameson Taillon and his $2.25 million salary are heading to the Yankees in a move made to solidify the Yankees’ 2021 starting rotation. In exchange, pitching prospects Roansy Contreras, Miguel Yajure, shortstop prospect Maikol Escotto, and outfield prospect Canaan Smith were sent to the Pirates.
Taillon’s name was attached to trade rumors all offseason, and the Yankees always seemed like a great fit. There is a seeming interest that the Yankees seek to remain below the $210 million luxury tax threshhold this season. With the ability to start ballgames (hopefully for a full season) and a low-end salary, Taillon is able to provide Brian Cashman with nearly everything he is searching for. The Yankees also face a 40-man roster situation that the Taillon trade helped reduce. Prior to the trade, the Bombers had 42 players on their 40-man roster, meaning two players would need to be removed by assignment, outright release, 60-day injury list designation, or trade. Now, the Yankees dealt Contreras and Yajure, both of whom were rostered on the 40-man. Obviously, Taillon will be added to the roster, so the Yankees will now have to drop one player.
There is also a sad note attached to this trade for Yankees fans. The acquisition of Taillon adds to the increasing belief that Masahiro Tanaka will not be returning to The Bronx. Tanaka has been a Yankee for seven seasons, achieved Postseason success in New York, and handled the city’s media with grace. The Yankees rotation options currently consist of Gerrit Cole, Corey Kluber, Luis Severino (expected to return midseason), Jameson Taillon, Jordan Montgomery, Deivi Garcia, and Domingo German. Aside from Cole, every other option has either pitched in the minor leagues or missed significant time due to injury or suspension. Tanaka would provide certainty to a rotation that clearly needs it. However, if the Yankees do stay under the first luxury tax threshhold, Tanaka is clearly no longer an option.
As far as the players leaving New York in the deal, three are Top 30 Yankees’ Prospects, as rated by MLB.com. Contreras, ranked 19th, has pitched as high as Single-A and does not strike out hitters at a high rate (207 Ks in 249.1 innings). At only 21 years old, he does still have time to develop into a major league starter. Yajure, ranked 15th, is a 22-year-old righthanded pitcher that has seen major league action, despite only being 7 innings. In 61 minor league games, Yajure maintained a 2.47 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Smith is a 21-year-old who was drafted out of high school in the fourth round in 2017. In his three minor league seasons, he has demonstrated solid on-base skills (.405 OBP in 2019) and athleticism. Lastly, Escotto signed with the Yankees as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2018. He hit .315 with 8 home runs in Rookie-level ball in 2019. As a whole, the prospect package does not feature a top flight sure thing, but it provides depth to the Pittsburgh farm system.
Update (1/24): Jameson Taillon is indeed excited to reunite with former Pirates’ teammate Gerrit Cole. Cole’s wife, Amy, is also excited about the Taillons coming to town.