Jameson Taillon Landing Spots: Predicting 3 destinations for veteran pitcher coming off bounce-back season with the Cubs

It was a solid, bounce-back season for veteran starter Jameson Taillon in 2024. The 33-year-old enjoyed one of the best MLB seasons last year, posting a 12-8 record with a 3.27 ERA and 125 strikeouts over 165.1 innings for the Chicago Cubs. The veteran could be an intriguing trade target for clubs looking to add a proven pitcher to their rotation.

Taillon still has two years remaining on his contract, which will pay him $18 million each season. That type of deal might turn some teams off of a potential deal. However, if the Cubs were willing to eat some of the salaries or include a prospect, they could attract suitors.

Contract aside, Taillon is a solid starter who has proven himself time and time again at the MLB level. Several free-agent starters have already signed contracts this offseason with a higher annual salary than Taillon, so he could be viewed as an intriguing option on the trade market.

Here's a closer look at 3 potential landing spots for Jameson Taillon if he is made available by the Cubs

#1 - Baltimore Orioles

Jameson Taillon could be an intriguing short-term option for contenders looking to bolster their pitching rotation. Enter the Baltimore Orioles. The club has been in the market for starting pitching all offseason, missing out on the opportunity to re-sign superstar Corbin Burnes in free agency. The Orioles have a number of prospects that they could use in a potential deal for the veteran pitcher.

#2 - New York Mets

The New York Mets are in a championship-or-bust phase of their franchise and need to do everything possible to capitalize on this window. The high-profile addition of Juan Soto has left the team with no option but to bolster their roster as much as possible.

While Taillon may not be a true superstar, he is still a proven starter who could help provide the Mets with additional depth as they push for a title. The club has brought Sean Manaea back into the fold while adding Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes. However, the team would be foolish not to add more depth around them, as one injury could be a disaster.

#3 - Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers are looking to get back into World Series contention after a disappointing 2024 campaign. The 2023 champs have most of their core pieces still together. However, their pitching rotation leaves something to be desired. The Rangers could look to Jameson Taillon to help balance out a rotation that features unproven young players and injury-prone veterans.