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UPDATE
The Cubs have signed right-handed starting pitcher Jameson Taillon, agreeing to a four year contract worth $68 million.
UPDATE
According to multiple reports Tuesday night the Cubs are closing in on free-agent pitcher Jameson Taillon.
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When it comes to free agent rumors surrounding the Cubs we’ve mainly heard about the shortstops, but on Monday they were directly brought up in regards to Yankees free agent Jameson Taillon.
The 31-year-old began his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, suiting up for them from 2016-19. The right-handed pitcher missed the 2020 season after undergoing elbow surgery the year prior. Fortunately for him, Taillon signed with the Yankees heading into the 2021 season and put up two solid years in New York.
Cubs Team to Watch on Jameson Taillon
Now, after proving to be healthy once again, Taillon is in the market for a multi-year deal and the Cubs are in the mix. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand said Monday morning that the Cubs along with the Mets, Phillies and Orioles are the teams to watch for Taillon.
Jameson Taillon Career Stats
Jameson Taillon with the Pirates
2016: 18 starts, 3.38 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 104 IP, 85 K, 17 BB
2017: 25 starts, 4.44 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 133.2 IP, 125, 46 BB
2018: 32 starts, 3.20 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 191 IP, 179 K, 46 BB
2019: 7 starts, 4.10 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 37.1 IP, 30 K, 8 BB
Jameson Taillon with the Yankees
2021: 29 starts, 4.30 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 144.1 IP, 140 K, 44 BB
2022: 32 starts, 3.91 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 177.1 IP, 151 K, 32 BB
The biggest thing for me is that Taillon has been able to rebound nicely after missing extended time because of an elbow injury in 2019. He’s a guy who takes the ball every fifth day and he’s been a solid pitcher throughout his career. No, he’s not Jacob deGrom or Justin Verlander, but Taillon has shown the league that he’s a reliable and effective starting pitcher that can go deep in games.
At this point the Cubs need as many quality starting pitchers as they can get. We should absolutely expect the Cubs to sign one free agent starter and we should probably demand a second depending on potential trades.
Jameson Taillon Contract
Taillon is firmly in the second tier of free agent starting pitchers this offseason. He ranks 21st on Fangraphs overall top-50 free agent list. Fangraphs projected a three-year contract worth $42 million for Taillon. Meanwhile, MLB Trade Rumors predicted a bigger deal for the righty, thinking Taillon will sign a four-year, $56 million deal.
I’d lean more toward MLBTR’s prediction based on the contracts we’ve seen starting pitchers sign so far in free agency.
It’s not really pointing toward deGrom’s massive $185 million agreement with the Rangers or Verlander signing for $86 million over two years with the Mets. It’s the lower tier guys getting an impressive bag. It started with Tyler Anderson signing a three-year, $39 million deal with the Angels, after many thought he’d accept the qualifying offer from the Dodgers. The Tigers signed Mathew Boyd for $10 million after he only threw 13.1 innings for the Mariners last year and Mike Clevinger got $12 million guaranteed from the White Sox, which was more than he was projected to earn. Maybe the most surprising deal from this group of free agents was Zach Eflin managing to sign the biggest free-agent contract in Rays history, getting $40 million over three years.
The Cubs have also been linked to free agent starting pitchers Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, Corey Kluber and Kodai Senga this offseason.
