The New York Yankees have made a trade to boost their starting rotation a few weeks before spring training is scheduled to start. The team is trading four prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire starting pitcher Jameson Taillon, per Jeff Passan. Taillon will slot in as the Yankees third starter behind Gerrit Cole and Corey Kluber.
He missed the 2020 season after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery, but is expected to be healthy to start the season. He made seven starts in 2019 before undergoing the procedure. In 2018, his last fully healthy season, Taillon made 32 starts and pitched 191 innings. He finished the season 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while striking out 179 batters.
The Yankees are trading away Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, Maikel Escotto, and Canaan Smith in the deal. Yajure is the top-ranked prospect of the group, listed 15th by MLB.com.