Jameson Taillon trade

[Surgnbuck]

Starting individual threads for some of the more notable, and even some of the less notable trades that have occurred during the Ben Cherington regime to date. Though not 100 percent complete, I won't continue down too many rabbit holes, but will list some pertinent info on the players the Pirates got, what happened to them, and what happened to who they traded.

Jameson Taillon- 1/24/2021 Traded to New York Yankees for RHP Roansy Contreras, SS Maikol Escotto, LF Canaan Smith-Njigba, RHP Miguel Yajure.

The Pirates continue to dump any form of talent from the team, as this is the third trade in a month of moving bonifide major league talent. This one looked like it might actually be a winner for the Pirates on paper. But that wasn't the case, and considering Taillon, having battled back from cancer and being a stalwart in the rotation, leaves the Bucs as Pirates fans think about how he was supposed to have teamed up with Gerrit Cole as part of a dominating Pirates rotation that never would be.

Taillon accumulated 3.7 WAR with the Yankees before becoming a free agent, and signing with the Cubs. Though not reaching the lofty expectations from when he was drafted by the Pirates, he's been a consistent competent innings eater, the lunch box guy of any good major league rotation. Though with Cole there never was any real expectations he'd be a long term Pirate, the thought was Taillon could be, along with Musgrove, who looked to be part of a rotation the Pirates could build around. Alas, he was just part of the purge.

Roansy Contreras hit the ground running, and was making noise at the national level, being talked about as the lynchpin of the Pirates rotation, and near all star level production. However, it didn't last. Contreras would eventually turn into a 1.0 WAR player, and was dealt to the Angels on 5/16/2024 for cash considerations. He's accumulated a 0.6 WAR with the Angels so far this season. Miguel Yajure received all kinds of raves for his "stuff", and was being thought of as a real steal. But he didn't have the right stuff it would turn out, was a -1.4 WAR player for the Pirates, was claimed off waivers on 12/2/2022 by the Giants, was granted FA on 11/6/2023, and signed with the NPB. Maikol Escotto is still with the Pirates, a 22 year old at High A Greensoro and not a top 30 prospect in the organization. LF Canaan Smith-Njigba was essentially a AAAA player for the Pirates, producing a -0.2 WAR in short ML stints, was relased 6/6/2024 and is in the White Sox organization.

Trade Grade- Unmitigated disaster. Not only did the pitching prospects fall to pieces, the fact that Jameson Taillon endeared himself to the fans of Pittsburgh, he also seemed like he could possibly be a player the Pirates would finally open up the purse and pay and extend him. Marte, Bell, and Musgrove were talent losses. Trading Taillon also seemed to be like trading away part of the heart of the team, similar to Andrew McCutchen being traded. There was just something a bit more special with him.

[Babe Adams]

as Pirates fans think about how he was supposed to have teamed up with Gerrit Cole as part of a dominating Pirates rotation that never would be.

Anyone else notice that this is probably the first season that the big four of Cole, Taillon, Glasnow, and Keller have all had decent years?

[Bobster]

Miguel Yajure received all kinds of raves for his "stuff", and was being thought of as a real steal. But he didn't have the right stuff it would turn out, was a -1.4 WAR player for the Pirates, was claimed off waivers on 12/2/2022 by the Giants, was granted FA on 11/6/2023, and signed with the NPB.

This typifies the problem. Cherington doesn't trade for established, productive players because of the contracts that go with them. And top prospects are like gold in MLB today. GMs rarely give them up. That leaves Cherington sifting thru 2nd and 3rd tier prospects trying to identify who has the "stuff" or the tools to eventually become a top MLB player. Yajure had a cup o' coffee with the Yankees in which he did reasonably well in 7 innings (although that included a HR and 5 walks) but he had never pitched at AAA and had only 11 innings in AA in the NY system prior to the trade. He did poorly for the Pirates and did poorly in AAA when he received extended time at Indy. Cherington generally seems to be projecting what an unproven player can do at the MLB level. Cherington doesn't seem to be very good at that.