The Yankees are thinking positively when it comes to shooting in 2021. Because they clearly don’t trust the right things.
They have already reached an agreement this month with former Cy Young Corey Kluber award winner, who made an entry in 2020.
Now they are talking to the Pirates about Jameson Taillon, who did not shoot last year after his second Tommy John surgery.
Pirates, perhaps more in rebuilding mode than any team in the major, has already switched a starter, Joe Musgrove, to Padres and his top hitter, first baseman Josh Bell, to Nacional. They are open for business and have informed the teams that they would change another holder.
An executive from neither the Pirates nor the Yankees, whose team was involved in the initial pitch market, described the Bombers as strong favorites for Taillon. An agent who does not represent Taillon said he heard that talks with the Yankees were progressing. However, no Yankees or Pirates officials answered questions about the status of a deal.
If the Yankees managed to get Taillon, they would be adding another question mark behind Gerrit Cole, but it would be more of a talented question mark. The theory that is formed is that some of this collection will perform well for the Yankees to join a strong rotation throughout the season.
Kluber is the most talented of the group, but he has only made eight appearances in the past two years, only one in 2020 before a tear on his shoulder put him aside. Luis Severino is expected to return a few months after Tommy John’s surgery. Domingo German should be available from the start, after failing last season, due to a suspension due to MLB’s domestic abuse protocols. The Yankees see Jordan Montgomery as having the skills to be the third starter, and that Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt can rise to the same level.
Taillon’s things were never in question. In 2010, he was chosen second overall by Pittsburgh, sandwiched between Bryce Harper and Manny Machado (Pittsburgh took Cole with No. 1 overall choice in 2011). But Taillon was plagued by a number of illnesses. When healthy in 2018, the right was 14-10 with an ERA of 3.20 in 32 matches. However, he needed Tommy John’s surgery in August 2019 and that prevented him from entering 2020 as well.
Taillon owes $ 2.25 million in 2021, so he fits the Yankees’ calculations to stay below the $ 210 million luxury tax limit at least to start the year and he cannot be a free agent until after 2022 campaign. Taillon turned 29 in November 2020. He was trying to make biomechanical changes to his birth during his rehabilitation last year, including a shorter arm swing, to try to relieve his injuries.
He is talented and worth betting depending on the price. The Yankees already have to open two spots in the 40-player roster to make room for Kluber and DJ LeMahieu. So, if this trade is approved, does it involve someone from Miguel Andujar’s kingdom, Estevan Florial, Luis Gil, Luis Medina? Opponent executives say the Yankees are looking for partners to transfer as much of Adam Ottavino’s $ 9 million luxury tax number as possible to 2021. Would the Yankees give up better odds, for example, if Pittsburgh also faced Ottavino?