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Yankees' Updated Pitching Rotation After Jameson Taillon Trade

Rob Goldberg@TheRobGoldbergX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistJanuary 24, 2021

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The New York Yankees strengthened their rotation with Sunday's trade for Jameson Taillon.

The Yankees acquired Taillon in a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving up four minor league prospects in return. It could help add another reliable option to the pitching staff that had a lot of inconsistency in 2020 behind ace Gerrit Cole.

Though the rotation still has plenty of question marks, there is plenty of upside heading into 2021 as the squad hopes to contend for a World Series title.

      

Yankees Opening Day Rotation

1. Gerrit Cole

2. Corey Kluber

3. Jameson Taillon

4. Deivi Garcia

5. Jordan Montgomery

       

The Yankees will certainly have plenty of options when it comes to starting pitching.

Cole is the undisputed No. 1 after living up to his $324 million contract he signed last offseason. He finished his first year in New York with a 2.84 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 73 innings, ending up fourth in Cy Young voting.

The problems going into this year was lack of depth behind him, especially without veteran contributors J.A. Happ and Masahiro Tanaka.

Taillon missed all of 2020 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, a procedure that took place in August 2019

It gives him time to return in time for the start of the 2021 season, hoping to recreate his production from 2018 when he went 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA for Pittsburgh. The 29-year-old has always been known for his exciting stuff that made him a huge prospect in the minor leagues; he simply needs to stay healthy.

If he stays on the mound, Taillon could provide New York with another front-of-the-rotation starter.

Corey Kluber is a high-upside option as well despite pitching just one inning in 2020 because of injuries. He also had just seven starts in 2019, his final year with Cleveland.

There is no denying his talent, however, earning two Cy Young awards as one of the top pitchers in baseball from 2014-18. He can be a secondary ace and a key postseason fixture if he can return to form.

Deivi Garcia should make the rotation after holding his own in his first six career starts in 2020. The 21-year-old went 3-2 with a 4.98 ERA, walking just six batters in 34.1 innings.

This leaves a spot for Jordan Montgomery, the left-hander who posted a 5.11 ERA last year after returning from elbow surgery. While the raw numbers weren't all great, a 3.87 FIP and 5.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio indicate a bounce-back season is on the way.

Meanwhile, Luis Severino should return from his Tommy John surgery at some point this season, although it might not come until June or July. Domingo German is another possibility for the rotation after he returns from suspension

If those players don't reach expectations, Michael King and Jonathan Loaisiga will be available as well.

The result is numerous possibilities for the Yankees as they try to keep runs off the board.