PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A couple of former Pirates have gotten rich, or richer, in free agency over the last few days. One of them signing with a division rival.
Jameson Taillon
Following a mostly bounce-back, second season with the Yankees, Taillon signed with the Cubs for four years, $68 million. The right-hander made 32 starts going 14-5 with a 3.91 ERA in 2022. He struck out 151 with 32 walks, allowing 26 home runs with a 1.12 WHIP.
The Bucs 2010 first-round pick went 29-24 with a 3.67 ERA in part of five seasons with the Pirates where he battled through injury and cancer. The Bucs traded Taillon to the Yankees in January of 2021 for RHP Roansy Contreras, OF Canaan Smith-Njigba, SS Maikol Escotto and RHP Miguel Yajure.
Josh Bell
The 6’4”, 260-pound switch-hitter burst on the scene his rookie season in 2016 and had a monster year in 2019 hitting 37 doubles, 37 home runs and 116 RBI with a OBP of .367 and a slugging of .569. Bell was traded to Washington on Christmas Eve of 2020 for RHPs Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean. Bell was traded to the Padres in July of last year hitting .192 with three home runs, 14 RBI in 210 at bats with San Diego. The first-baseman gets two-years, $33 million with Cleveland.
Tyler Anderson
Signed to a one-year contract after a shortened season with the Giants in 2020, Anderson went 5-8 with the Pirates in the first few months of 2021 with a 4.35 ERA with a 1.2 WHIP. The Bucs traded the lefty to Seattle for minor-league catcher Carter Bins and RHP Joaquin Tejada. Last season, Anderson went 15-5 with the Dodgers and a 2.57 ERA, allowing 14 home runs in 178.2 innings with a 1.002 WHIP. The 32-year-old signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Angels.
Jose Quintana
The outside hope, or maybe dream, of some outside and inside the organization, of a return ended Wednesday. The left-handed starter signed with the Mets for two-years, $26 million. A meteoric raise from the one-year, $2 million contract with the Pirates in 2022. The Bucs traded Quintana to the Cardinals in July, along with reliever Chris Stratton, for RHP Johan Oviedo and 1B/3B minor-leaguer Malcom Nunez. Used mostly as a reliever with the Angels in 2021, Quintana started 20 games with the Pirates going 3-5 with a 3.50 ERA. The 33-year-old threw 103 innings with the Pirates giving up only seven home runs and then went and pitched better with St. Louis (3-2, 2.01 ERA in 12 starts).