The Mets are in talks to sign Jameson Taillon, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Yankees’ starting pitcher became a free agent this offseason after his contract with the Yankees expired. Taillon, who just turned 31 on November 18, is a free agent for the first time in his career and ranks 14th on MLBTR’s list of the winter’s top 50 free agents.
The right-hander has spent the last two seasons with the Yankees, so he is familiar with New York City. However, he had an injury-ridden 2019 season that required Tommy John’s surgery. As a result, Jameson Taillon missed the entire 2020 season and played only a few games in 2019. Since the start of the 2021 season, he has pitched 321 2/3 innings with an earned run average of 4.08. Jameson Taillon’s strikeout rate is below average, and when he came back from his TJ recovery, his fastball speed was also below average. However, he has great spin rates and strong control. In 2022, Taillon’s rate of walks (4.4%) gave him a score of 94th percentile.
It is also important to note that Jameson remained largely without any health issues or injuries over the last two seasons, with the exception of a three-week stay on the injured in September 2021 because of an ankle injury. Taillon has had two Tommy John surgeries and fought testicular cancer, so when the Yankees got him in a trade with the Pirates during the offseason of 2020-21, they took on some risk. Luckily, Jameson Taillon hasn’t had any more major health problems, and he now looks like (if anything) a reliable veteran pitcher who could fit into the rotation of any team.
The Yankees didn’t give Taillon a qualifying offer, so he was able to sign with any team without having to pay a draft pick for his services. MLBTR predicted that Jameson Taillon would get a four-year, $56 million deal, but noted that the right-history hander with Tommy John could make it hard for him to get that fourth guaranteed year.
Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker are all free agents, so the Mets have some big holes to fill in their rotation. Max Scherzer and Carlos Carrasco will definitely take up two of the five spots. David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and Elieser Hernandez, who was just acquired in a trade, could all end up fighting for the last spot.
The Mets have been very active in the market and are also looking at the top names, including deGrom and Justin Verlander. Jameson Taillon represents a good option for them to fill the gap created by too many free agencies in their team. He can add depth to their bullpen.
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