The Blue Jays will exercise their team option on lefty starter J.A. Happ, paying $6.7MM rather than a $200K buyout, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman tweets. Prior to the 2013 season, the Jays signed Happ to a one-year, $5.4MM extension for 2014 that included the option they’re exercising now. He can become a free agent after the coming season.
Happ pitched 158 innings for the Jays in 2014, with a 4.22 ERA, 7.6 K/9 and a 2.9 BB/9 that marked a significant improvement over his 2013 mark of 4.4. Happ also increased his average fastball velocity from 91.1 MPH to a career-high 92.7, perhaps an indication that he can continue to be helpful. He looks likely to be in the Jays’ rotation again in 2015.
Interesting how they could have saved this ~$7 mil and used it to target an option with higher upside, say, McCarthy or Liriano?
Happ could easily be traded if they were to sign one of those guys. I’m sure a few teams would think that Happ’s numbers would translate much better in a bigger ballpark.
1.4WAR this season indicates he’s worth the club option.
I didn’t say that he is not worth the option, I simply implied that this team has a limit on their window of contention if ownership doesn’t increase spending and bring in higher upside talent
I hope they increase spending and bring someone in, I just hope it’s not a starting pitcher because our starting pitching was good for the first time in nearly a decade. 2B/3B is a graveyard for this team when Lawie’s hurt and Melky’s bat isn’t getting replaced unless they bring him back. Our bullpen is pretty awful too.
Happ’s an asset at the moment, not a great one but still provides value. Why would you let an asset get away when you can trade it for something you really need?
Took a me a minute to think it over but I agree with you. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion aren’t going to be Blue Jays forever, or at least not be performing at this kind of level. They should pull a move for Howie Kendrick to man 2B, fill up the bullpen, and grab a mid-tier SP with upside.
Wow, what a waste of money that is!
How? he pitched pretty well this year and this is a pretty reasonable #
If 11-11 with a 1.4 WHIP is good for you, enjoy mediocrity!
mediocrity from your 5th starter is fine though. Tell me a staff that has 5 better than mediocre starters…
Well, I would have said the Tigers from this season, but Verlander…
But you are right, a 5th starter is usually your average pitcher.
Good move by the Jays. He’ll fit well in the back of the rotation with Dickey, Buehrle(unless one of he or Dickey is traded), Stroman, Hutchison and one of Sanchez or Norris.
McCarthy and Liriano would likely get more than the Jays are paying for Happ. Besides, the Jays need a 2B, bullpen help and resign Cabrera.
Never seen a ballclub so happy with mediocrity.
My speculation is that J.A. Happ is just filler until the Triple-A starting pitchers can prove themselves at the Major Leagues.
Saunders is better, cheaper and under control longer. I’ll await the full details on this one, but if it’s a straight-up trade the Blue Jays likely win it.