Ranking players Yankees should consider signing to contract extensions

3. Jameson Taillon

More. Pitchers. They are the bedrock of any given roster. And now that Jameson Taillon has fully validated the Yankees’ acquisition of him, it’d be best to keep him around for his future prime years after his blistering start in 2022 (8-1, 2.70 ERA, 3.00 FIP, 1.05 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 13 starts).

Taillon is a free agent after 2022, which makes this more urgent than the last two (duh, it’s why he ranks ahead of them). Truth be told, the Yankees traded for him likely hoping they’d see the results in 2022. He underwent his second Tommy John surgery and beat testicular cancer before arriving in New York, so one can hope the worst is behind the unflappable right-hander.

What the Yankees are accomplishing right now with Taillon among those leading the way, there’s no reason for them to jump ship and go shopping for another starter who either won’t be as good or will require more time for the team to develop or unlock.

Like Severino, the Yankees experienced a sort of growing pain with Taillon in 2021, which pretty much served as his big-league rehab year post-TJ. The money to retain Taillon will be there, too, with Zack Britton, Aroldis Chapman, Joey Gallo, Chad Green and others freeing up over $40 million on the payroll.

All we’re trying to say is that it’d be a waste to have to go back to the drawing board for the rotation if a guy as impactful of Taillon departs after finally proving what he can do on a contender.