X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Jameson Taillon to the Yankees - Fantasy Impact

The New York Yankees traded for starting pitcher Jameson Taillon from the Pirates ahead of the 2021 MLB season. Michael Grennell examines the fantasy baseball value for Taillon at SP.

After bolstering their rotation with the signing of Corey Kluber last week, the New York Yankees acquired another starter over the weekend as they shipped off four prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jameson Taillon. Here's how that deal broke down:

Yankees receive: RHP Jameson Taillon
Pirates receive: RHP Roansy Contreras, RHP Miguel Yajure, INF Maikol Escotto, OF Canaan Smith

The trade brings another starter coming off injury to New York, as Taillon will return to the mound after missing most of 2019 and all of 2020 due to Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, the Pirates continue to rebuild their farm system as they've now turned Taillon, Joe Musgrove and Josh Bell into 11 prospects — eight of which are already ranked in MLBPipeline's Top-30 list for Pittsburgh including two Top-10 prospects. Managers in dynasty leagues will want to take a look at the Pirates' haul in this deal, but for everyone else the main focus will be on how Taillon will do wearing pinstripes in 2021.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Taillon to the Bronx

After pitching his first full season in 2018, Taillon made just seven starts in 2019 before being shut down and eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career. Over those seven starts, Taillon saw some of his numbers trending downward, including career-worsts in strikeout rate (19%) and hard-hit rate (39.8%), while his 12.9 percent home run per fly ball rate was the second-worst of his career.

But even in the midst of all that, there were some promising signs as well, and those positive trends could be in part due to an increased usage of his slider. With the jump from 18.1 percent usage in 2018 to 31.6 percent in 2019, Taillon posted career-bests with an 11.8 percent swinging-strike rate and a 76.6 percent contact rate. And when batters were making contact against him it was mostly turning into groundballs, as Taillon's 7.7 degree launch angle and 3.4 percent barrel rate were career-bests and his 49.6 percent groundball rate was his best mark since 2016.

The biggest challenge that Taillon will face in 2021 though is moving from the weaker NL Central to the tougher AL East. Pittsburgh's divisional opponents in 2020 combined for a 25.3 percent strikeout rate, .222 batting average and .388 slugging percentage, while Yankees' divisional opponents posted a 24 percent strikeout rate, a .254 average and .435 slugging percentage. While Taillon will be facing tougher competition in the AL East, he will get a slight boost in his potential value as he goes from having one of the worst offenses in MLB backing him to a Yankees offense that has ranked in the top-five in the league in scoring for four years straight. But the competition from within the division may end up canceling out some of that benefit from the Yankees lineup.

There is one more aspect of this trade that managers might want to consider. It's anecdotal and there are no statistics that can guarantee he will have success, but there has been somewhat of a trend in recent years of Pittsburgh starters benefitting from a change in scenery. Just take a look at Gerrit Cole and Tyler Glasnow's post-Pirates careers. Now in no way, shape or form does that mean managers should expect Taillon to turn into Cole 2.0, but in the later rounds in drafts it might be something to consider if you find yourself debating between picking Taillon or someone else.

 

Pittsburgh Investing in the Future

Once again we find ourselves looking at the newest infusion of young talent into the Pittsburgh organization. Yajure is the headlining player in this trade for the Pirates, as he now slots in at No. 14 in MLBPipeline's Top-30 prospect list for Pittsburgh after making his MLB debut in 2020. Over three appearances out of the bullpen with New York, Yajure posted a 27.6 percent strikeout rate and 1.29 ERA, but his 17.2 percent walk rate, 5.33 FIP, 5.41 xFIP and 4.87 SIERA weren't exactly great numbers to see. Granted, this comes in a small sample size of just seven innings, and he looked far better pitching between High-A and Double-A in 2019 where he posted a 23.9 percent strikeout rate and 5.4 percent walk rate with a 2.14 ERA and 2.56 FIP over 138.2 innings.

Yajure should be looked at primarily in dynasty leagues for right now, but according to a report from MLB.com writer Jake Crouse, Yajure could be potentially competing for a spot in the Pirates rotation early in the season. In that case, managers playing in 12-team and deeper leagues might want to consider Yajure as a potential late-round sleeper.

Contreras is a 21-year-old pitcher who has been used almost exclusively as a starter over his three-year career in the minors. He sports a career 3.25 ERA, 20.1 percent strikeout rate and 7.2 percent walk rate over 249.1 innings pitched, and there is some debate among scouts as to whether or not he'll remain a starter or end up in the bullpen. According to the story by Crouse, Contreras could also potentially see some time in Pittsburgh late in the season but that is not as likely to happen as it is with Yajure.

Escotto is a 19-year-old infielder with one season of pro-ball under his belt. Playing primarily second base in 2019, he slashed .315/.429/.552 with eight home runs and 13 steals over 45 games in the Dominican Summer League. That power/speed combo could make him an interesting player in fantasy if he continues to develop, but he is the furthest away from making any kind of impact.

Smith was a fourth-round pick out of high school for the Yankees in the 2017 draft, and he seemed to have made a step forward in his development in 2019. After struggling in 2018 to the tune of a .191 average and .596 OPS in Low-A, Smith slashed .307/.408/.465 over 124 games in the South Atlantic League in 2019, hitting 11 home runs with 16 steals while posting a 20.5 percent strikeout rate and 14 percent walk rate. The Pirates have several higher-ranked outfield prospects in their system — including the newly acquired Hudson Head — but a big season by Smith in 2021 could have him vying for playing time in the near future.

 

Fantasy Bottom Line

Taillon will be the only player in this deal that managers can feel certain will make an impact in fantasy this season. Assuming he stays healthy and a full season is played, managers should expect around 10 to 13 wins from Taillon with about 140 strikeouts and an ERA somewhere between 3.50 and 4.00. He's currently being drafted in the later rounds with an ADP of 237, which seems to be a fair place for him to go. However his new teammate Kluber currently has an ADP of 244, and some managers might want to go with Kluber over Taillon based on his track record and better potential value.

Out of the prospects Pittsburgh acquired Yajure is the most likely to make an impact in 2021, but managers should only look at him as a late-round pick in 12-team and deeper leagues. The other three players in this trade should only be looked at in dynasty leagues, with Contreras being the player closest to reaching the majors while Escotto is the furthest out from making his debut.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Aaron Gordon

Finishes With Eight Points In Game 7
Jamal Murray

Has A Rough Afternoon On Sunday
Reilly Smith

Hopes to Stick with Golden Knights
Chet Holmgren

Finishes With Another Double-Double On Sunday
Lars Eller

Plans to Continue Playing
Jalen Williams

Shows Up In Game 7
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Can't Lift Denver To A Win On Sunday
Anthony Stolarz

Suits Up as Backup Sunday
Sergei Bobrovsky

Aims to Maintain Perfect Game 7 Record Sunday
Anthony Stolarz

Unavailable for Game 7 Against Panthers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads OKC To The Western Conference Finals
Matthew Knies

Good to Go Sunday
Evan Rodrigues

Returns to Panthers Lineup for Game 7
Kyle Larson

Skipping All-Star Heat Race Should Be Good for DFS Place Differential Points
William Byron

Lack of Winning Speed and Good Starting Position Make Him a Poor DFS Option
Chase Briscoe

Joe Gibbs Racing Speed Should Carry Chase Briscoe in All-Star Race
Alex Bowman

Consistent Loss of Positions Makes Him a Poor DFS Choice
Ross Chastain

Despite Mediocre Short Track Record, Ross Chastain Surprisingly Finished Second in Heat Race
Austin Cindric

Consistent Lack of Short Track Speed Means He'll Likely Struggle in All-Star Race
Daniel Suarez

Unexpected Trackhouse Speed May Make Daniel Suarez a Valid Option
Harrison Burton

For Harrison Burton, Making the All-Star Likely As Good As It Gets
Ryan Blaney

Is Worth Rostering For All-Star Tournament Lineups At North Wilkesboro
Joey Logano

What Should Fantasy Players Do With Joey Logano For The All-Star Race?
Tyler Reddick

Should Fantasy Players Roster Tyler Reddick For The All-Star Race?
Brad Keselowski

May Dominate The All-Star Race At North Wilkesboro
Chris Buescher

Could Pay Off For All-Star Race Tournament Lineups
Josh Berry

Is Josh Berry A Sneaky DFS Option For The All-Star Race?
Austin Dillon

Is An Intriguing DFS Option For The All-Star Race
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Could Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Be A Top DFS Bargain Value For The All-Star Race?
Tommy Edman

Activated, Starting on Sunday
Xavier Edwards

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
De'Von Achane

Says He "Left a Lot of Yards on the Table" in 2024
Jamal Adams

Wants to Return to Jets
José Alvarado

Jose Alvarado Suspended for 80 Games
Zebby Matthews

Promoted Ahead of Sunday's Start
Mick Abel

Promoted Ahead of MLB Debut
Tyler O'Neill

Headed to Injured List
Kyle Connor

Records an Assist in Season-Ending Defeat
Mark Scheifele

Nets Lone Jets Goal During Emotional Night
Tyler Seguin

Returns to Score Sheet with a Power-Play Assist
Miro Heiskanen

Picks Up an Assist in Saturday's Win
Thomas Harley

Records Two Points in Series-Clincher
Josh Morrissey

Sustains Knee Injury in Game 6 Loss
Jaylen Brown

May Need Surgery
Logan Gilbert

Completes Second Bullpen Session
Hunter Tyson

May Miss Another Game Sunday
Russell Westbrook

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Jamal Murray

Probable for Sunday's Game 7
Aaron Gordon

Officially Listed as Questionable for Game 7
Clayton Kershaw

Activated Ahead of Season Debut
Claude Giroux

Senators Interested in Keeping Claude Giroux
Jalen Chatfield

Expected to Play in Conference Finals Opener
Kyle Connor

Boasts Impressive Numbers In Elimination Games
Jake Oettinger

Looks To Extend Home Winning Streak Saturday
Connor Hellebuyck

Makes 13th Postseason Start Saturday
Mark Scheifele

Will Play on Saturday
Cole Ragans

Hits 15-Day Injured List
Seth Lugo

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Jalen Royals

"Can Make An Impact Immediately"
Baltimore Orioles

Orioles Fire Brandon Hyde
Nico Hischier

Ruled Out for Rest of World Championships
Matthew Tkachuk

Sees Point Streak End Friday
Corbin Burnes

Strikes Out 10 in Six Shutout Innings
Wilmer Flores

Collects Eight RBI in Three-Homer Game
Josh Hart

Has A Triple-Double On Friday Night
Karl-Anthony Towns

Picks Up A Double-Double In Game 6
Jalen Brunson

Leads New York To A Win On Friday Night
Greg Joseph

49ers Sign Kicker Greg Joseph
John Jenkins

Ravens Agree to One-Year Deal With John Jenkins
Cole Ragans

Exits his Start on Friday With Groin Tightness
Pete Crow-Armstrong

Knocks in Six Runs
Miguel Vargas

Homers Twice in Loss
Byron Buxton

Clears Concussion Protocol, Considered Day-To-Day
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Starting on Friday
Xavier Edwards

Scratched With Back Tightness
Carlos Correa

Goes on Seven-Day Concussion Injured List
Aaron Nola

Goes on Injured List
Brock Purdy

Signs Five-Year Extension
Aidan Hutchinson

Looks Good in Practice
Greg Zuerlein

Jets Release Greg Zuerlein
Chris Olave

Steelers Showing Interest in Chris Olave
Michael Morales

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Gilbert Burns

In Dire Need Of Victory
Precious Achiuwa

Uncertain For Game 6
Derek Carr

More to Derek Carr's Retirement Than his Injury?
Rodolfo Bellato

Set For UFC Vegas 106 Co-Main Event
Paul Craig

Returns To Light Heavyweight
Shedeur Sanders

Browns Say Shedeur Sanders is Willing to Put in the Work
Mairon Santos

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Harold Fannin Jr.

Browns, Harold Fannin Jr. Agree to Terms on Four-Year Rookie Deal
Sodiq Yusuff

Set For Lightweight Bout
Nursulton Ruziboev

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 106
Melquizael Costa

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 106
Julian Erosa

Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 106 Main Card
Keaontay Ingram

Chiefs Waive Keaontay Ingram
D.J. Humphries

No Deal Yet Between 49ers, D.J. Humphries
Cleveland Browns

Browns Maximizing Reps For Rookies
Cleveland Browns

Browns To Utilize Fullback Position In 2025
Jaxson Dart

2025 Could Be A Redshirt Year For Jaxson Dart
Eric Johnson II

Claimed By Indianapolis
Donovan Jackson

Signs Rookie Contract
Jordan Addison

Jury Trial Set For June In Connection To Jordan Addison's 2024 DUI Citation
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Hiring Brandon Hunt As Vice President Of Player Personnel
Josh Hart

Leads Knicks In Scoring Wednesday Night
Derrick White

Erupts For 34 Points As Celtics Stay Alive
Luke Kornet

Big For Boston In Game 5
Jaylen Brown

Records Double-Double In Crucial Win
Anthony Edwards

Posts Double-Double In Series-Clinching Win
Julius Randle

Scores Game-High 29 Points In Series-Clincher
Brian Harman

Not A Great Option For PGA Championship
Cameron Smith

May Not Be Worth The Risk At Quail Hollow
Joaquin Niemann

A Strong Play At Quail Hollow
PGA

Sungjae Im Could Be Someone To Watch At Quail Hollow
Max Homa

Still Not Trustworthy Ahead Of PGA Championship
Jason Day

Looking To Continue Success At Quail Hollow
Sam Burns

A Shaky Play At Quail Hollow
Daniel Berger

Looking To Capture First Major At Quail Hollow
Jordan Spieth

Looks To Complete Career Grand Slam At Quail Hollow
Rory McIlroy

All Eyes Are On Rory McIlroy At Quail Hollow
Jon Rahm

Fits Quail Hollow Well On Paper
Keegan Bradley

A Reliable Option At Quail Hollow
Will Zalatoris

Enters PGA Championship With Major Concerns
Justin Thomas

Peaking At The Right Time For PGA Championship
Akshay Bhatia

Not Quite The Same Since Players Championship
Harris English

Playing Well Heading Into PGA Championship
Collin Morikawa

A Solid Contender At PGA Championship
Gary Woodland

Not Expecting Much At PGA Championship
Si Woo Kim

A High-Risk, High-Reward Option At PGA Championship
Tom Hoge

A Risky Play At Quail Hollow
PGA

Tyrell Hatton A Volatile Pick At PGA Championship
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF