The Pirates announced today that right-hander Jameson Taillon underwent his second career Tommy John surgery. Taillon had been slated for surgery to repair his right flexor tendon, which was initially expected to sideline him for seven to nine months. However, according to the Pirates, it was determined during the course of that procedure that he required a UCL revision in his right elbow. Taillon is expected to miss the entire 2020 season and return to competition in 2021.
It’s a brutal loss for the Pirates, who just a couple of months ago were hoping that Taillon would be able to return at some point in 2019. Now, they’ll be without their best pitcher not only for this season but the entire 2020 campaign as well. That’ll leave the Buccos with a rotation mix comprised of Joe Musgrove, Chris Archer, Trevor Williams, Steven Brault and well-regarded prospect Mitch Keller. Pittsburgh also hopes to have Chad Kuhl back in 2020, when he’s recovered from his own Tommy John surgery, and other options are present on the 40-man roster in the form of Dario Agrazal, JT Brubaker, Yefry Ramirez and Rookie Davis. Still, it’s a largely non-established group that could well be in need of offseason augmentation.
Taillon, 27, was the No. 2 overall draft pick back in 2010 and long rated as one of baseball’s elite prospects. Injuries, headlined by a prior Tommy John surgery and a frightening battle with testicular cancer, stalled his development and delayed his path to the big leagues. However, upon arrival, Taillon quickly demonstrated why he’d received such lofty fanfare, and in 2018 looked to have cemented himself as a front-of-the-rotation piece in Pittsburgh. After a pair of solid seasons to begin his career in 2016-17, Taillon broke out in 2018 with 191 innings of 3.20 ERA ball. Along the way, he averaged 7.2 strikeouts, 1.9 walks and 0.96 homers per nine innings pitched to go along with a grounder rate just a hair under 50 percent.
Taillon will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter and figures to receive a relatively small raise given that injuries limited him to 37 1/3 innings of 4.10 ERA ball in 2019. Whatever price he and the Pirates agree on will quite likely be his salary in 2021 as well, given that it’s common for arbitration-eligible players who miss an entire season due to injury to simply re-sign at the same rate. Taillon will get a bump into seven figures to reflect the contributions he’s made in his career to date, but the potential $4.5-6MM salary he might’ve received with a healthy 2019 campaign now looks firmly out of the question.
The Pittsburgh front office will have a tall order when it comes to replacing the value lost with a full season of Taillon. While the roster has several rotation alternatives, there are few, if any, with Taillon’s ceiling among them. (Keller, perhaps, stands out as a notable exception.) The worst-case scenario in the rotation comes at a time when other members of the lineup — namely Josh Bell and breakout rookie Bryan Reynolds — have stepped into the spotlight and given the Pirates hope that each can be a core piece around which to build. Now, with new core assets emerging, Pittsburgh will see one of its most crucial core members fade from the picture for the foreseeable future.
I feel bad for him. to not be able to realize your potential due to injury has to be eating at him. do well and come back strong in 21, sir.
Another Pirates draft pick lost in the sauce…
Well at least they didn’t trade him to the Rays only to become a very good player in under 1 year.
Speaking of which, no idea if and when Glasnow will be back. He might end up getting surgery as well. He was rehabbing and had a setback like Taillon did too.
this guy has absolutely the worst luck.
So did he have the TJ surgery instead, or did he have to have both?
His surgeon was doing the flexor tendon surgery and while he was in working on the tendon the Surgeon realized had to do another TJ surgery.
I was wondering the same thing. Is it two separate surgeries? What if the doctor didn’t have the right tools to perform TJS?
It was the same surgeon that did the original TJ surgery. Guessing he had the tools sterile and ready to use.
Like maybe he left his “Tommy John” tools at home?
LOL!!!!!
I think they sell a Flexor Tendon Repair Kit at Harbor Freight.
Hopefully, the doctor had a 20% off coupon and got a free flashlight, as well.
Double LOL!!!!!
Happened to have the local Pittsburgh ports station on that is also the Pirates flagship radio station.. The normal drive time guy is on early filling in for on of the normal afternoon guys. Both hosts are trying to make up any reason to bash the Pirates over the situation. They over pitched him last yea, they should have made him have surgery sooner than now even though there is no way they can force him to have the surgery, Whoever decided to try to rehab should be blasted over it. I believe that would have been Taiilon and his doctors. Team doctors recommend but unless it is a very simple procedure, players and their agents seek out specialists for opinions. Considering Taillon kept his arm pain a secret from when it started till he could not pitch anymore, I would say Taillon ha complete control of the situation Typical reactions by the Pittsburgh talking heads. Mind you all the info they have is a tweet issued by the team. They know everything!
It isn’t just Pittsburgh talking heads. Every sports talk person believes they know best. They crow hot takes to get ratings. You could dial in any team’s sports talk bloviators and you’d get pretty much the same rhetoric.
93.7 The Fan knows less especially Paul Zeisse.
True. He can barely form and speak complete sentences. Mueller is worse IMHO.
Mueller is the one screaming for the complete blowup, Ziese is actually making some sense in not wanting to completely blow it up but he is kind of just blinding bashing.
Mueller just had the usual radio Play by play guy on, Greg Brown. He was being civil while he had him on the air as Brown was being logical in saying not to make trades just to make the trades but only if it makes sense. The moment he was off back to blowing it all up
I’ve moved from Pittsburgh 6 years ago but occasionally listen to 93.7. Who is and where did this Mueller guy come from? Geez he is terrible
I can remember being astonished at anyone hitting 90 or more on the gun back in the olden days and now, it seems to be standard in every MLB pitcher and those coming up through the minors. I’ve always wondered where this extra speed has come from, how it’s been generated. Should it be any surprise that TJ surgery has also become commonplace in the past 20 years? This isn’t just a Pirates phenomenon
Bigger, faster, stronger. Problem is, it’s still human physiology
Feel badly for Taillon.
Exactly this.
Brutal. Hopefully he makes it back. Going through this rehab a second time must be tough mentally.
Not to mention having cancer in between the two Tommy John surgeries.
Guys that are herky jerky with their mechanics always worry me. The way Bassitt throws makes me uncomfortable, and he’s already had TJS once. Very similar mechanics to Tailon.
What?
Long sweeping arm motion. Starts from well behind and snaps quickly towards home.
Not what I would call herky jerky but to each his own. I happen to think Taillon has a pretty smooth delivery.
Now the radio guys want the Pirates to completely blow up the team…….Trade everyone..Fire everyone, smh………
The Pirates shouldn’t completely blow up the team. There are some long term pieces that are worth keeping around, like Reynolds, Bell, Newman, Musgrove, etc.. But guys like Vazquez should be traded. Vazquez is worth very little to a team that will likely be just below .500 next year, and he certainly isn’t worth more to the team than the prospect haul he could bring the Pirates in return. They have to realize that they aren’t just one player away from contention, they’re at least three or four, and if they aren’t willing to acquire those players this winter, they need to retool, rebuild, whatever you want to call it, because there’s no point in continuing to be mediocre.
I believe if they would have been able to get anywhere near his value, then Vasquez would have been traded. He very much could be gone before next season if they get players that they need to fill holes.
:PS the evening guy is now hedging on rebuilding but the regular afternoon guy is still pounding the table and demanding a full rebuild. One of the morning guys is messaging in and he he demanding a full rebuild as well. They really have no clue but know they will have yinzers calling like crazy wanting to fire everyone, and trade everyone tool. Will have to turn it off soon…..
Sad to say, but, with this owner the Pirates will always be mediocre or worse. Had a few good years but he was to cheap sign anyone who could have made them a solid contender.
There’s nothing Pirates fans can do about the owner, so they have to look at doing with what they’re given. Mark Cuban, Mario Lemieux, and Robert Tull all have tried to buy the team off of him and create a competitive product, to no avail. We do with what we’ve got.
Damn, I was really hoping he would have to avoid it, but it seemed inevitable.
Remember when the Pirates were set with Cole, Glasnow, and Taillon?
I remember back when Stetson Allie was supposed to be in that dream rotation too.
Bring back Stetson Allie
Well…this is….not good.
The Pirates might have to really consider a rebuild at this point.
The biggest disappointment of the Pirates season for me has been the lack of development/regression of Joe Musgrove. Had a solid rookie year and the stuff and personality to succeed. Then, the velocity disappeared. Where did it go?
He, Williams and Archer need to show something down the stretch or else there will be no choice as to what they do.
If they rebound somewhat, the team has a very narrow path to contention. Huntingdon would have to become Houdini to pull it off. In order to compete, they would need to keep Marte.
That leaves two trade chips that could get them what they need if they make the right trade. Vazquez is obviously one of them. But now you are trading from weakness as the bullpen is in shambles.
There is one player they might be able to trade to get the return they need and still be OK at the position….and I hate to say it….Josh Bell.
Between Will Craig, Jose Osuna, Colin (almost called him Ian) Moran and/or a FA, they can find someone to contribute at 1B (in the case of Craig, possibly at a high level). If they could trade Bell for the right SP and/or a starting C, they have to consider it.
First year of arbitration Josh Bell won’t be expensive enough to jettison from payroll. Probably happens after 2020 season though is they aren’t contending at the trade deadline.
I agree with a lot things mentioned FWTHBT, I just don’t see a path to contention anywhere in the near future. I think a full rebuild is in order and that should come with a new GM and coaching staff. I don’t trust NH to make the right deals if it comes to trading Bell, Vasquez and even Marte and I’m not a fan of his draft skills.
Clearly upper mgmt is not going to spend the money to bring in the pieces to make this team competitive.
What a shame….
As usual, well stated
I generally like Josh Bell. He’s a good guy and despite a prolonged slump, I like the upside of his bat. But with Craig in the wings, he’s almost a prototypical DH, as his glove needs work. Just can’t see him going back to the OF
The middle infield logjam is going to be an interesting fight. Tucker looks promising, so what happens with Kramer and Frazier?
(And there’s another top SS in the farm)
When does Hayes come up at 3rd?
Will Polanco ever live up to his potential?
And I haven’t even touched upon pitching
I mean, you were being facetious when you said they’d “have to consider a re-build at this point,” right?
Bell, Vasquez—you’d think they could bring you some talent in the battery
Tucker is no longer the top shortstop in the system, and he probably never will be again. Newman emerged to be a perfectly viable option there, and Oneil Cruz, though probably suited better at third or in the outfield, is a much better prospect than Tucker. I can’t see Tucker breaking through as the team’s starting shortstop, especially after his struggles in the majors this year, and Newman’s successes. I agree with everything else you said though.
Thanks for the notes and I’d agree that Newman has risen to the competition. I like what limited views I’ve had of Cruz and Hayes and forgive me for saying that it makes me ponder the trade of Meadows, Baz and Glasnow even more. I mean, shortly after dispatching vets like Cutch, Cole, Walker and Morton, you kill the game plan of a strong new group coming up to placate whispers that maybe you can get a WC berth?
Sheesh. It’s like handing dynamite to a child
I have thought the same thing? The Archer trade makes no sense even for 1 of the players let alone 3. I’ve read numerous baseball writers saying they were amazed Huntingdon gave up so much
The guy they took over of Manny Machado.
Hindsight is always 20-20.
Extreme, are you stupid every day of your life? I thought so.
Dang man, this is a bummer. I think this may force the Pirates to make some tough decisions this off-season. I don’t think the organization has to enter a full-fledged rebuild since they have a respectable farm, but a re-tool so to speak, could be in order–take a step back in 2020 for a bigger step forward in 2021.
I hate to trade key players like Bell and Vasquez.
This is a big loss though.Some players are just doomed physically and I think that Taillon is one of them.
One poster was correct-Williams,Musgrove,and Archer need to man up the rest of this year,Musgrove should be the long man if he does not do so.
I think that Brault and Keller will be OK.Brault is definitely not a relief pitcher.
The Pirates need a pitcher like Nova who can start or relieve.That was the role that Kingham was supposed to have.
They have an excess of middle infielders although I do think that Frazier is better as a utilityman.
I doubt that Gonzalez is that guy.The ball that Reyes let drop against the Cardinals was probably because Gonzalez was right on top of him in the outfield.Gonzalez should stick to the outfield but he has not hit enough to play there on a consistent basis.
I feel bad for Taillon as he has had bad luck.The Pirates need to add a mid tier starter this year and spend some money.
A little karma for an organization that deserves it.
Ekrog–that is really a nice thing to say.
If it is sarcasm you are worse than a troll.
At this point, the Pirates should just start rebuilding over the offseason. They could keep some productive youngsters like Bell and Reynolds, but they should be looking to trade Marte, Polanco, Archer (if they can), and their other veterans that won’t be around for the next good Pirates team, as well as letting Cervelli walk in free agency.