The Yankees should acquire Jameson Taillon

The New York Yankees and Jameson Taillon are familiar with each other this offseason. Back when Josh Bell was still on the trade market, the Yankees were rumored to be going after both Bell and Taillon. It's no surprise that Yankee fans are growing impatient with the lack of improvements to the roster, but luckily for all of you, I've got just the plan.

The Yankees should go out and pull the trigger on a trade for Taillon, one of the most underrated pitchers in the sport, because would provide an immediate boost to the rotation.

Taillon is an Established Starter

While there is untapped potential, Taillon has already been a solid starter in the league. He was sidelined for most of 2019 and all of 2020, but from 2017-2019 he put up some solid numbers. With a 3.75 ERA and 3.51 FIP, on the surface, he seems like a pitcher who could maybe be reaping the benefits of a poor run environment in Pittsburgh, but that wouldn't be true. A 3.71 pCRA and 3.69 DRA suggests that he is able to consistently be a solid starter. His production also comes with a modest 15.3% K-BB%, which could improve drastically. He wasn't even properly utilized, and yet he was performing well. What do I mean by improper utilization? I mean that his pitching coach was straight garbage and held him back.

The New York Yankees Analytical Prowess

With Matt Blake finally getting a full season with the organization, his analytical coaching will be able to help pitchers. Taillon is someone in dire need of an analytical pitching coach like Matt Blake. While Taillon was healthy, he had the groundball loving Ray Searage as a pitching coach. While groundball pitchers can be effective, they shouldn't be forced onto pitchers with strikeout stuff. Jameson Taillon has an amazing pitch mix that the Yankees could utilize to make him realize his full potential:

Fastball: 95.2 MPH/2350 RPM Sinker: 95.2 MPH/2223 RPM Curveball: 82.2 MPH/2649 RPM Slider: 89.8 MPH/2393 RPM Changeup: 87.9 MPH/1709 RPM

He has some of the best arm talent in the game and he has some great breaking balls as well. With a pitch mix like that, Taillon can become a much better strikeout pitcher and progress into a No. 2 caliber starter. He was a 2nd overall pick in the 2010 draft for a reason.

How Could the Yankees Acquire Jameson Taillon?

Since he is under contract, the Yankees would have to trade for him. This deal wouldn't take any major prospects since Taillon is coming off an injury and isn't the same caliber starter as guys like Snell or Darvish. It would take some younger prospects.

New York Yankees receive: Jameson Tallion RHP Pittsburgh Pirates receive: T.J Sikkema LHP (#17 prospect), Caanan Smith OF (#21 prospect), Miguel Yajure RHP (#15 prospect)

This deal sends a pitcher who could be MLB ready in Miguel Yajure, a young pitcher who's ETA is 2022, and a young outfielder who's ETA is also 2022. The Yankees get a young controllable starter who's going to fit well with them and their pitching coach at a low price. It's a win-win for both teams, and the Yankees will get a key piece for their rotation.