Yankees trade for Jameson Taillon

The Yankees have traded for Jameson Taillon (sounds like a scotch). The Pirates are to get Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, Maikol Escotto and Canaan Smith.

Yajure, a RHP, was #15 on MLB’s list of top Yankee prospects. He is 22 and got into 3 games for the Yankees in 2020. In 2019 he pitched for High-A Tampa, with a 3.31 ERA there, 122 strikeouts, 28 walks in 127.2 innings.

Contreras, a RHP, was #19 on the list. He is 21. He had a 3.33 ERA in Charleston A Ball. He had 113 strikeouts and 36 walks in 132.1 innings.

Smith, an outfielder, was #21 on the list. He is 21, a LHB. He was a fourth-round pick in 2017. He hit .307/.405/.465 in Charleson in 2019 with 11 home runs and 16 steals, playing LF.

Escotto is a SS who the Yankees signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2018. He is 18. Hit .315/.429/.552 in the DSL in 2019.

Taillon is a guy I wouldn’t have complained about the Jays getting. He missed all of last year after Tommy John (but missing all of last year wouldn’t have been a bad thing). After signing Corey Kluber, the Yankees are taking a chance on a couple of guys coming off injury.

I don’t know if quantity over quality is a good idea, but the Pirates got a bunch of players.

This is great. It is also great that star players used to have roommates.