It is unclear whether the Chicago Cubs will be buyers or sellers at the upcoming trade deadline. However, the uncertainty hasn’t stopped teams from calling the Cubs about specific players. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have both checked in on starting pitcher Jameson Taillon.
According to @BNightengale, the Red Sox have had talks with the Cubs about Jameson Taillon. Yankees have as well.
No shocker there. Craig Breslow was a major part of the Cubs recruiting Taillon before 2023.
Taillon has a 3.10 ERA/3.81 FIP in 16 starts. He’s making $18 MM in… pic.twitter.com/IPiiCBaLcM
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) July 21, 2024
Red Sox and Yankees Interested in Jameson Taillon
Taillon has pitched well in the second season of his four-year deal. After opening the season on the injured list, Taillon has posted a 3.10 ERA (136 ERA+) in 93 innings. Though he has prevented walks at an elite rate, Taillon has not struck many batters out and has allowed solid contact.
The veteran is owed less than $7 million for the remainder of 2024. Additionally, he comes with two years of club control at $18 million per year. Even if Chicago sells at the deadline, the team will likely look to compete as soon as next season.
Taillon’s club control is just as valuable to the Cubs as it would be to other teams, like the Yankees or Red Sox. That said, the AL East rivals are both familiar with Taillon and need to strengthen their starting pitching depth at the deadline.
Taillon and the Yankees
Before heading to Chicago via free agency, Taillon spent two seasons in the Bronx. In his Yankees tenure, he posted a 4.08 ERA (100 ERA+) in 321 2/3 innings. General manager Brian Cashman has a history of trading for pitchers who don’t stay healthy and/or can’t handle the New York environment.
Jameson Taillon started FIFTEEN games in a row for the Yankees last season without taking a single loss. No Yankee in the last ten years has had a longer loss-less streak.
🔥@JTaillon50🔥 pic.twitter.com/tsDhYB5TGq— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) January 31, 2022
In trading for Taillon (for a second time), Cashman would acquire an arm that team doctors know well and a human he knows can thrive with the team. The stakes are as high as ever in the Bronx this season. While the team has explored flipping top prospects for high-upside youngsters, Cashman could prefer to trade for a known commodity.
That said, Taillon’s contract might not fit into New York’s budget for this season or beyond. As third-time taxpayers, the Yankees would pay a 110 percent tax on Taillon’s remaining 2024 salary and possibly in 2025-26. It’s doubtful that the Cubs would want to eat money or take back a high-salaried veteran in any Taillon deal.
Taillon and the Red Sox
For Boston, new front office leader Craig Breslow helped recruit Taillon to Chicago when he worked in its front office. With the Cubs, Breslow was tasked with improving the organization’s pitching infrastructure and establishing a pitching player development system.
The Red Sox are reportedly interested in SP Jameson Taillon. Early look at him:
RHP — FF/FC/SW/Si/CH mix
Good FC/SW shapes — big, loopy CU
93 IP — 3.10 ERA
4.7% BB Rate.Craig Breslow played a role in recruiting Taillon to Chicago.pic.twitter.com/hfn9tZKxTC
— Pat (@PatSullivan05) July 21, 2024
Breslow reportedly represented a big reason why the Cubs went after and eventually signed Taillon. It makes sense that he would be just as interested in the righty’s services now that he’s running the show in Boston.
The Red Sox starting rotation has surprisingly performed well this season. However, the unit has been impacted by injuries all season long. Plus, many question how their arms will hold up down the stretch. Adding Taillon could elevate the floor of the unit’s potential and add important depth in case more injuries arise.
Photo Credit: © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
