New York Yankees continue to add to rotation

Less than two weeks after signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, the New York Yankees traded four minor league prospects for 29-year-old Jameson Taillon. Both Kluber and Taillon as question marks, coming off injuries. 

The number 2 overall pick in 2010, Jameson Taillon was a 14-game winner in 2018 but appeared in only seven games in 2019 before going down with an elbow injury. It turned out the Taillon needed Tommy John surgery and missed all of last season. The idea for the New York Yankees is to provide a solid numbers two and three starter behind Gerrit Cole. That is entire possible and even likely should Kluber and Taillon return to form. The Yankees need to cover all bases with the loss of JA Happ to the Twins and the status of Masahiro Tanaka’s future up in the air

The move to acquire Jameson Taillon was very smart for the Yankees considering the lack of experience of the other candidates to fill the rotation, which include Deivi Garcia, Clarke Schmidt, and Jordan Montgomery.  Luis Severino and Domingo German are also in the mix, but their returns this year are also in question.

Despite having a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Jameson Taillon is on pace to return this season. The Yankees actually talked to Cole about Taillon since he played with him in Pittsburgh. Cole indicated that Taillon is someone you want next to you when going to battle and Taillon is excited to be pitching in the same rotation with Cole once again. Taillon is under contract through the 2021 season for $2.25 million.  He went 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 18 starts as a rookie in 2016. He followed with eight wins in 2017 before his breakthrough season in 2018 in which he went 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA, with two complete games, a shutout and 179 strikeouts in 191 innings.