Report: Mets Checked In On Cubs Starter Jameson Taillon
According to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, the New York Mets have checked in on right-handed starter Jameson Taillon. Heyman goes on to say that despite the interest there is a chance that, “he may well stay.” He ends the report with proclaiming that the Cubs are still unsure what their approach at the deadline will be.
Adding a starter should be a priority for president of baseball operations David Stearns. With the injury to Kodai Senga, and the struggles of other Mets starters in Tylor Megill, Jose Quintana, and the now-injured Christian Scott, the need is pressing.
A full breakdown of what the Mets would be getting if they acquired Taillon can be found below via an excerpt from our recent article analyzing five starters the Mets may target:
“Taillon has not only had a strong 2024, but he would also be able to help the Mets beyond this season. The 32-year-old right-handed starter is under contract for $18 million per year through the end of 2026.
The first season of Taillon’s four-year deal with Chicago did not go as planned. He tossed 154 1/3 innings, however, he posted an ERA of 4.84 and FIP of 4.61. Luckily, for the Cubs and the 32-year-old, Taillon has bounced back thus far this season. Through 17 starts, he has posted a 2.96 ERA and 3.77 FIP. These numbers would be the best marks of his career since missing most of the 2019 season and all of 2020.
The analytical profile isn’t as pretty as the traditional numbers paint his season out to be, granted, they’re not bad by any means. His 3.68 xERA is a strong number, but indicates he has experienced some good fortune. The soft-tosser has specifically done a good job of limiting hard contact (69th percentile hard-hit rate) and does not walk batters (89th percentile walk rate). Overall, despite some potential evidence for regression, Taillon has been solid in 2024.
On one hand, acquiring Taillon would not only help the Mets for the remainder of the season, it would also lock down a rotation spot through the end of 2026. However, there is quite a bit of risk associated with acquiring the eight-year veteran. An annual average salary of $18 million is a decent commitment on a 32-year-old pitcher with injury concerns and one who is slightly over-performing in 2024. However, if he can keep the current performances up over the duration of the deal, he can provide great value and lock down a middle rotation spot for the next couple seasons.”
You can read that full article right here.
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