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NEW YORK – In this off-season, Jameson Taillon had said goodbye to teammates Josh Bell and Joe Musgrove, traded from the revamped Pittsburgh Pirates.
Late on Sunday morning, Taillon learned that he too had left.
“Since I received the news that I was going to New York, I have not felt nervous (or) overwhelmed. Extremely excited about the opportunity, ” Taillon said the day after being defeated by the Yankees.
“Overnight, I went from a team under reconstruction to a team like the Yankees… where the only thing that matters is winning.
“That kind of lit a fire under me. ”
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Right-handed Miguel Yajure led a package of four candidates en route from Pittsburgh to Taillon, who could take third place in the Yankees’ rotation, behind his former roommate Gerrit Cole and newly acquired veteran Corey Kluber.
And the Yankees showed that the negotiations did not end, creating additional space below the $ 210 million luxury tax limit by negotiating appeasement Adam Ottavino for the Boston Red Sox of all the teams.
With just over $ 8 million in payroll relief, the Yankees could meet with veteran outside advocate Brett Gardner and still have room to add another import relief.
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Ready to roll
Admittedly, Taillon is part of a group that no pitcher wants to join: the Tommy John surgery club, which once existed twice.
The right-hand hasn’t started a major league game since May 2019, but “I’m feeling great, ready to play,” said Taillon, 29, who finished last season playing for live hitters.
“Everything is on schedule for me, ” Taillon said. “I am confident that I will be ready to go and I can add something” to a club with aspirations in the World Series.
In the same five-year period from his arm injuries, Taillon became a testicular cancer survivor.
“It sounds crazy, but each experience is separate and you learn something new each time,” said Taillon. “I think that all the injuries just aroused a lot of curiosity in me, ” guiding him to find new ways to approach his art.
“I love to collaborate … keep an open mind and never stop learning. ”
Taillon said he completely changed his mechanics to take the stress out of his elbow, using more of his legs in his delivery and squeezing what used to be a crazy, whipped arm action.
“I had a moment of recovery, ” Taillon said, reasoning that“ I need to change something or my career is going to end.
“I am recovering extremely well; that’s exciting, ” Taillon said. “But none of that matters, unless I go out and prove it. ”
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Cole Connection
A previous draft pick for the first round (second overall) in 2010, Taillon emerged in the Pirates system with Cole and even allied himself with the future of the Yankees in spring training.
“Every night, you have a five-star cooked meal, ” said Taillon of life with Cole, who came up with a side of the pitch experience.
“He cares a lot about his craft (and) his teammates,” said Taillon. “I admired him a lot as a teammate and as a friend, and I’m sure I’ll do the same with him in New York. ”
Taillon has already connected with Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake, warning Blake about the avalanche of videos he is about to receive.
“I want to make sure that I’m on the right track and keeping all the right habits,” said Taillon, who says his best shot is his curved ball.
Taillon hopes to rely less on his sinker and more on his four-seater quickball and a more real slider (it used to look more like a fast-cut ball) to keep up with his curve.
He is also “playing” with a change and “recently found a foothold that I am happy with”.
Pete Caldera is the Yankees’ beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Yankees analysis, news, trades and more, sign up today and download our app.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pcaldera