The Yankees are thinking successfully when it comes to starting to launch in 2021. Because it clearly does not rely on safe things.
They have already reached an agreement this month with former two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, who threw a half in 2020.
Now, they’re talking to pirates about Jameson Taillon, who didn’t launch at all last year after Tommy John’s second surgery.
The Pirates, perhaps more in reconstruction mode than any other major team, have already switched a starter, Joe Musgrove, to the Padres and their first slugger, first baseman Josh Bell, to the national team. They are open for business and the teams have announced that they will move another starter.
An executive from the Pirates and Yankees whose team was involved in the starting pitching market described the bombers as strong leaders for Taillon. An agent who does not represent Taillon said he heard talks with the Yankees were advancing. However, no Yankees or Pirates officials answered questions about the status of a transaction.
If the Yankees could get Taillon, they would add another question mark behind Gerrit Cole, but it would be another talented question mark. The theory of the formation is that some of that collection will have good results for the Yankees to achieve a strong rotation during the season.
Kluber is the best in the group, but he has only made eight starts in the last two years, only one in 2020, before a shoulder tear left him. Luis Severino returns a few months into the season after Tommy John’s operation. Domingo German should be available from the start after disappearing last season after a suspension under MLB protocols on domestic abuse. The Yankees see Jordan Montgomery as having the skills to become the No. 1 seed. 3 and that Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt could climb to the same level.
Taillon’s things were never questioned. In 2010, he was ranked second in Pittsburgh, among Bryce Harper and Manny Machado (Pittsburgh took Cole at No. 1 overall in 2011). But Taillon was afflicted with a number of ailments. When he was healthy in 2018, the right was 14-10 with an ERA of 3.20 in 32 starts. However, he needed Tommy John surgery in August 2019 and that kept him out for 2020 as well.
Taillon is set to receive $ 2.25 million in 2021, so it falls within Yankees’ calculations to stay below the $ 210 million luxury tax threshold at least to start the year and can only be a free agent after the campaign in 2022. Taillon turned 29 in November 2020. He tried biomechanical changes at his birth during his debate last year, including a shorter arm movement, to try to alleviate the injuries.
He is talented and worth betting on depending on the price. The Yankees already have to eliminate two 40-man seats to make room for Kluber and DJ LeMahieu. So, if this transaction takes place, does it involve someone from the realm of Miguel Andujar, Estevan Florial, Luis Gil, Luis Medina? Opposition executives say the Yankees have been looking for partners to move as much of Adam Ottavino’s $ 9 million luxury tax bill for 2021. Would the Yankees give up better prospects, for example, if Pittsburgh took Ottavino?