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The Yankees are thinking on the upside when it comes to starting pitching in 2021. Because they clearly aren’t relying on sure things.
They’ve already struck a deal this month with former two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber who pitched a round in 2020.
Now they are talking with the Pirates of Jameson Taillon, who didn’t launch at all last year after his second operation at Tommy John.
The Pirates, perhaps more in rebuild mode than any majors team, have already traded starter Joe Musgrove to the Padres and their top puncher, first baseman Josh Bell, to the Nationals. They are open for business and have let the teams know that they will suggest another incumbent.
An executive neither of the Pirates nor of the Yankees whose team was involved in the starting pitcher market described the Bombers as strong trailblazers for Taillon. An agent who does not represent Taillon said he heard talks with the Yankees were advancing. However, no Yankee or Pirates official answered questions about the status of a business.
If the Yankees could get Taillon, they’d add yet another question mark behind Gerrit Cole, but it would be yet another talented question mark. The theory that emerges is that a few of this collection will work well for the Yankees to replenish a strong rotation during the season.
Kluber is the most accomplished of the group, but has only made eight starts in the past two years, only one in 2020 before a shoulder tear ruled him out. Luis Severino is due to return a few months into the season after Tommy John’s surgery. Domingo German is expected to be available from the start after missing last season following a suspension under MLB domestic violence protocols. The Yankees see Jordan Montgomery as having the skills to be a No.3 starter, and that Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt could reach that same level.
Taillon’s business was never called into question. In 2010, he was drafted second overall by Pittsburgh, sandwiched between Bryce Harper and Manny Machado (Pittsburgh took Cole with the No.1 pick in 2011). But Taillon was beset by a series of evils. Healthy in 2018, the right-hander was 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts. Nonetheless, he needed Tommy John surgery in August 2019 and that also kept him from stepping out for 2020.
Taillon owes $ 2.25 million in 2021, so he fits into the Yankees’ calculations to stay below the luxury tax threshold of at least $ 210 million to start the year and he cannot be a free agent. until after the 2022 campaign. Taillon turned 29 in November 2020. He was attempting biomechanical changes to his childbirth during his rehabilitation last year, including a shorter arm swing, in an attempt to relieve the injuries.
He is talented and worth the bet based on the price. The Yankees must already clear two spots in the 40-man roster to make room for Kluber and DJ LeMahieu. So if this trade comes to fruition, does it involve someone from the kingdom of Miguel Andujar, Estevan Florial, Luis Gil, Luis Medina? Opposing leaders say the Yankees were looking for partners to move Adam Ottavino’s luxury tax number by $ 9 million as much as possible for 2021. Would the Yankees give up on better prospects, for example, if Pittsburgh also faced Ottavino ?
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