The Cubs have signed free agent starting pitcher Jameson Taillon, who joins from the Yankees after a very good season in New York, to be their starting pitcher. A position in which they were very interested in adding at least one impact arm to the rotation.
According to reports, Taillon will sign a four-year, $68 million contract with the Cubs.
The Chicago Cubs’ last 24 hours have been hectic and crucial. The team agreed to a one-year, $17.5 million contract with free-agent center fielder and former National League MVP Cody Bellinger earlier today. The Cubs have yet to confirm or announce either deal.
On Tuesday, Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins stated that the team’s primary goal was to find rotation help.
“You can never have enough pitching. That’s pretty tried and true,” Hawkins said. “We would absolutely love to add as many as we can. I think we do have great internal options already that are guys that we want to continue to give innings to.
According to reports, the Cubs were the only team to meet with Taillon in person about the possibility of signing him.
The signing of Taillon won’t cost the Cubs any draft choices. Taillon was predicted to sign a $56 million contract, so the Cubs really got a bargain deal.
The #Cubs today agreed to terms with RHP Jameson Taillon on a four-year major league contract.
Welcome to Chicago, @JTaillon50! pic.twitter.com/BAvVxfy7Hm
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) December 19, 2022
What can the Chicago Cubs expect from Jameson Taillon?
Taillon has been a solid Major League starter for the New York Yankees over the last two seasons, especially after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the majority of the 2019 season and kept him out until the 2020 season. Taillon was also forced to miss some time in 2017 battling testicular cancer, which was beaten quickly and remarkably, missing only around one month.
This deal will send Taillon back to the NL Central, where he spent much of his career there, as he e