Yankees acquire Jameson Taillon from Pirates

Following the addition of free agent Corey Kluber, the New York Yankees have once again bolstered their starting rotation. According to Jeff Passan, the Yankees have acquired Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Miguel Yajure, Rosansy Contreras, Maikel Escotto, and Canaan Smith.

The New York Yankees have acquired Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, Maikel Escotto and Canaan Smith, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 24, 2021

Taillon did not play in 2020 due to undergoing Tommy John Surgery for the second time, but has a 3.67 ERA and a 8.09 K/9 in four seasons with the Pirates. Taillon becomes the third major move for the Yankees this offseason; the team re-signed D.J. LeMahieu on a six-year deal, and inked Kluber for a one-year deal. Taillon also joins ace Gerrit Cole in the starting rotation; Cole and Taillon were both on the Pirates in 2016-2017. The Taillon trade comes off the heels of J.A. Happ signing a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins, and the Yankees’ uncertainty of bringing back Masahiro Tanaka. The Yankees will also be without Luis Severino until the middle of the 2021 season. Despite having Jordan Montgomery and Deivi Garcia, the team could benefit from one more arm in the rotation. The Yankees are also looking at picking up an outfielder before heading into Spring Training. They have been linked to names such as Yasiel Puig and their old friend Brett Gardner.