Today “Jamo” is the newest member of the New York Yankee’s pitching staff. Sources say that the Yankees have traded with the Pittsburgh Pirates for starting pitcher Jameson Taillon. Taillon is a solid mid-level rotation pitcher with a huge upside. Taillon is in the prime of his career after coming back from this second Tommy John surgery. He did not pitch during the 2020 season while rehabbing. The Yankees had to give up Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, Miakel Escotto, and Caanan Smith to land Taillon in the Bronx. The deal was announced by ESPN.
The dual Canadian U.S. citizen born in Lakeland, Florida, signed a letter of intent to attend Rice University but instead accepted a $6.5 million signing bonus to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He worked his way through the minors, where he succumbed to his first Tommy John surgery. He made his Major League debut in 2016 and made the starting rotation for the Pirates in 2017. He has a career record of 29-24 with an ERA of 3.67 in 82 starts with 419 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.247.
He pitched the entire 2018 season uninjured with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts. His 2019 season was cut short when he required his second Tommy John surgery. His surgery went well. He did not pitch in 2020 while rehabbing.
At just 29 years old, Taillon is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound pitcher. He primarily utilizes a fastball that can top out at 98 mph, sinker, slider, and a circle curveball. He gets an impressive 50% ground ball rate, which plays well at Yankee Stadium. The acquisition of Taillon will likely conclude the search for starting pitching. He will add $2.25 million to the New York Yankee’s payroll and become a free agent after the 2021 season.
Yankee ace Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon were teammates during the 2016 and 2017 seasons when both were with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
