MLB Pipeline analysts evaluate prospects Pirates got in return in Jameson Taillon trade

By trading Josh Bell, Joe Musgrove and Jameson Taillon for 11 players in three deals in a month, the Pittsburgh Pirates restocked their farm system and added eight prospects to their adjusted MLB Pipeline top 30.

The MLB.com writers who compile those rankings, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, weighed in on how the Pirates fared in their return in the Taillon trade Tuesday on the MLB Pipeline podcast.

Dealing Taillon, a 29-year-old right-hander returning from a second Tommy John surgery, netted the Pirates three prospects with top 30 rankings — right-handers Miguel Yajure (No. 14) and Roansy Conteras (19) and outfielder Canaan Smith (26) — as well as 18-year-old infielder Maikol Escotto, who played in the Dominican Summer League.

“I thought, from the Pirates’ standpoint, it was a very good trade in terms of continuing to add a lot of depth to the system,” Mayo said, “even if it’s going to take years to find out how good of a trade it was.”

Callis, however, noted the Yankees didn’t give up any of their top five prospects or anyone who is ranked among MLB’s top 100. His scouting report of the four players wasn’t exactly glowing:

• On Yajure: “A guy with an average fastball but good polish. I think he’s more of a floor than a ceiling guy.”

• On Contreras: “Throws 92-95 and touches 97. That’s above-average. It’s not an overwhelming fastball. He doesn’t miss a ton of bats, so it’s unclear exactly what he is.”

• On Smith: “An on base-over-power corner guy. He’s got decent power. He might be regular. He might not.”

• On Escotto: “Interesting, but hasn’t played in the US. There’s some power upside for a second baseman. We don’t know a lot about him because we haven’t seen him. DSL stats, I don’t think mean anything. It’s essentially high school ball.”

The Bell trade to Washington brought back right-handers Eddy Yean (No. 8) and Wil Crowe (26), and the three-team deal that sent Musgrove to San Diego helped acquire center fielder Hudson Head (6), lefty Omar Cruz (20) and catcher Endy Rodriguez (22). The Taillon trade bumped reliever David Bednar, a Mars alum, out of the top 30.

Callis and Mayo hinted the rankings soon could change, with players such as right-hander Tahnaj Thomas (now No. 18) moving up, which caused them to rank fellow pitchers Contreras, Cruz and Crowe lower than they normally might have. Whether that affects the Pirates’ overall system ranking — which has ranked in the middle of MLB — depends on whether any players eventually impress in the minors.

“It adds depth, which is good, obviously,” Callis said. “When you say moving the needle, they haven’t added a top-100 guy. They’ve added two guys among their top 13 prospects. I think it bolsters their depth, but I don’t think it moves their farm system up significantly.”