Cubs Deal Sends Shockwaves: Cubs Trade Sends Former Yankee Pitcher Back to the Bronx
The Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation features two lefties at the top, Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, and they have depth options with Colin Rea, Matthew Boyd, and Jameson Taillon.
Chicago seems to have been in many trade rumor talks surrounding them getting a dominant right-handed starter to help balance the rotation.
However, in a recent trade proposal by Athlon Sports, the Cubs are giving away a righty-starter.
The New York Yankees are part of this move, which sends Cubs starter Jameson Taillon to the Yankees, who could use pitching depth, in return for reliever Ian Hamilton and prospect Will Warren.
New York lost ace Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgery, and 2024 American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil is on the 60-day Injured List.
Veteran starter Taillon would be a great addition to the Yankees rotation that could use a solid righty. The Yankee righty-starter options are Marcus Stroman, Carlos Carrasco, and Clarke Schmidt. So, Taillon could be their best option if this deal goes through.
For the Cubs in 2024, he started 28 games and pitched to a 3.27 ERA over 165.1 innings. Yankee fans should also remember Taillon as he pitched for them in 2021 and 2022. Not as productive as during his tenure with the Cubs, but he was still serviceable, going 22-11 with a 4.08 ERA over 321.2 innings.
Warren is the fifth-ranked prospect in New York’s farm system right now and would get a chance with the Cubs to not be thrown into immediate starts as his stats from being in MLB last season reflect that he may not be ready.
Ian Hamilton would help sure up Chicago’s bullpen, which is already dealing with question marks heading into the regular season. He recorded a 3.82 ERA in 37.2 innings a season ago.
