The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded pitcher Jameson Taillon to the New York Yankees for four prospects. Going to the Bucs are pitchers Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras, infielder Maikol Escotto and outfielder Canaan Smith.
Taillon, 29, hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2019 after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. He previously underwent the procedure in 2014 when he was still a minor leaguer. Taillon would miss the entire 2015 season with a sports hernia before making his big league debut in 2016. In 2017, his season was curtailed due to testicular cancer. Needless to say, Taillon has been through a great deal.
But Taillon has a great deal of talent. He was the Pirates first round draft pick in 2010 and second overall in the nation after Bryce Harper and was also picked just ahead of Manny Machado. Taillon's best season came in 2018 when he went 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA. In 82 big league starts for the Bucs, Taillon is 29-24 with a 3.67 ERA.
Taillon will be reunited with former Bucs teammate Gerrit Cole which might go a long way in his success in the Bronx. The Yankees are taking a chance on Taillon, but they will pay him $2.25 million this season. Taillon is eligible for arbitration in 2022 and eligible for free agency after 2023. So the Yankees aren't on the hook for that much at least in the short term.
Meanwhile, the Pirates have been acquiring a contingent of prospects. Including the Taillon trade, the Bucs have acquired 11 prospects in recent weeks after sending first baseman Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals and pitcher Joe Musgrove to the San Diego Padres in a three way deal with the New York Mets. Of course, Pirates GM Ben Cherington also traded Starling Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks last off season (who has since been dealt to the Miami Marlins). It might take awhile, but by 2025 the Pirates could be world beaters.
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