The New York Yankees added another recovered candidate to their initial rotation on Sunday, acquiring Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates by four secondary league candidates.
Pittsburgh received pitchers Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras, infielder Maikol Escotto and outfielder Canaan Smith in the exchange, which was announced by the two teams.
Taillon, 29, was runner-up in the general draft in 2010 and was a winner of 14 games for Pirates in 2018. But the right-handed pitcher appeared in just seven games in 2019 and lost all last season while recovering from Tommy’s surgery John on his release elbow.
The Yankees agreed to the switch less than two weeks after signing Corey Kluber, twice a winner of the Cy Young award, who also wants to recover from consecutive seasons marked by injuries.
Taillon, who spent his entire professional career in the Pirates’ organization, tweeted on Sunday that it was a “bittersweet day” for him.
Bittersweet day for me here! Trying to process everything – I have a LOT to say to the city of Pittsburgh and my teammates. I also have a lot to say about this incredible opportunity and for the city / fans in New York. Thanks to everyone who got in touch! More 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 future of free agent Masahiro Tanaka uncertain and veteran JA Happ having joined the Minnesota Twins, New York may face a shortage of proven pitch options after Cole.
In addition to Taillon and Kluber, the other candidates for the Yankees’ rotation include southpaw Jordan Montgomery, who has played in just 12 games since Tommy John’s surgery in 2018, young Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt, former All-Star Luis Severino , who lost everything last season because of Tommy John’s surgery, 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 brand registers the last step in rebuilding for Pirates, which has also gained several perspectives in previous off-season negotiations that sent All-Star first baseman Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals and starting pitcher Joe Musgrove to San Diego Fathers.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton told reporters last month that any negotiations would be made “for the improvement of Pirates in the future”.
As for the Yankees, the exchange also brings together a pair of former teammates in Taillon and Cole, who were both promising in the Pittsburgh organization and played alongside the Pirates in 2016 and 2017.
Taillon most recently shot in the majors in 2019, when he went 2-3 with an ERA 4.10 in seven matches. He went 14-10 with an ERA of 3.20 the previous season.
Taillon, who is under a $ 2.25 million contract in 2021, also lost time during the 2017 season while battling testicular cancer. His first Tommy John surgery was performed in 2014, when he was launching into the Pirates minor league system.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.