7:41pm: Both Happ and former teammate Lance Lynn are “engaged with” the Astros, Yankees, Reds, Rangers and Blue Jays, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweets. Happ’s also continuing to draw the attention of the Phillies, while Lynn has received interest from the White Sox, according to Feinsand.
9:53am: It has seemed for the past few days that veteran lefty J.A. Happ could be the next domino to fall in the starting pitching market, and there are signs this morning that talks are advancing. Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets that Happ’s market is “heating up,” while Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports on Twitter that Happ is sitting on multiple two-year offers.
The key question remains whether Happ will secure a guaranteed third season. Passan says that he has yet to receive such an offer. Happ’s representatives have “indicated he’ll sign with the first” team that meets that asking price, however, so it seems possible that something could come together swiftly.
Entering the offseason, MLBTR predicted that Happ would indeed secure that third season in a new deal, riding his solid recent track record to a $48MM guarantee. There certainly seems to be sufficient interest to support such an outcome, though organizations are understandably hesitant to commit to Happ through his age-38 campaign.
To this point, the Phillies, Braves, Yankees, Brewers, Reds, Angels, Astros, Twins, Blue Jays, and White Sox have all been connected to Happ. It’s certainly not impossible to imagine a few other organizations with possible interest as well, though at present it’s tough to gauge the likeliest landing spots.
Thanks Slevy. Had to delete my post until someone posts.
“Yankees are willing to go two years with J.A. Happ, but are reluctant to add a third, when he’d be 38.”
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) mobile.twitter.com/BryanHoch/status/10722819173937…
Dont want his age 36, 37, potentially age 38 seasons.
Go Yankees
I’d want to see that
Optional third year but not guaranteed.
Can’t be paying a pitcher into their 38 year old season.
What about Sabathia?
Corner the market on soft tossing lefties.
Never should have resigned CC, and here come the Yankees fans saying..why not he was good last year, he’s a good fifth starter, you know what you’re gonna get, that’s cheap for what he gives you. I have the same feelings on the resigning of Gardner.
You are right here. Gardner and CC should have been sent packing. There were easy(and probably cheaper) upgrades to make in those areas.
If they were gonna go cheap than there were definitely better options for a bench bat than Gardner. The money used for CC could’ve been put toward Happ, and they could do the trade for Thor as an example. A rotation of Thor-Severino-Paxton-Happ-Tanaka is definitely superior to CC + those four guys.
Why do you insist on acting as if the Yanks can’t afford Happ? Sounds like the issue isn’t annual salary but years.
You really make some silly rants. Please tell me what pitcher available that posted a sub 4 ERA is to be had for less than 1/$8 mil. Add to the fact that he’s NY tested. I’ll wait.
As weak as Gardner ended the year, he did have a 2+ WAR and can either start in LF of CF if needed, still has a good glove and is NY tested. Please…..tell me who they should’ve signed that can play both CF and LF? And if the Yanks DO sign one of Harper, Markakis or Brantley to play LF then Gardner becomes the 4th OF and backs up Hicks should he become injured.
You have to look at the market. You guys keep saying CC and Gardner were bad signings. Offer up guys that are better options? And if something comes up it’s not as if the Yanks can’t absorb the expense.
Says a guy who wants to sign the aged Nick Markakis, and the injury prone Michael Brantley. Yea move an old player over to a new position and depend on someone who’s played over 100 games once the last 3 years and is also horrible in the OF. Great plans guy.
Bring back Jamie Moyer!
Have him pitch to Julio Franco.
If he’s smart he’ll take the two years with an option for a third if the Yanks offer him that.. even just two years alone on a winning team at that age is a win.
If you have lunch on a dinner plate, does that make it a lunch plate?
yum. hawaiian plate lunch.
If the Reds can’t handle this then their free agent winter is over and their fans got nothing.
white sox got this
No looks like the White Sox got Nova……
It’s hard to understand how the White Sox could be interested in Happ. They need an innings-eater, but not at Happ prices for two, let alone three, years. The team’s window of competing has yet to open, and it won’t until some of those prized prospects are able to produce enough to win major league games or to be hyped enough to serve as trade bait for other players who already have. Happ is not an answer.
Ivan Nova
I can see their interest in J.A. Happ. They can use a veteran presence to replace James Shields. Another lefty in the rotation to go along with Carlos Rodon would also be nice.
I’d rather have a “younger” Dallas Keuchel who could be a fan favorite on the South Side as a Mark Buehrle “clone” with his stuff and fielding acumen but he also comes with a QO which would cost the White Sox their #2 pick in June.
Happ also happens to be a native of Peru, Illinois and excelled at Northwestern University as a starting pitcher. So he’s got some roots and smarts as well, maybe the Joe Girardi of MLB pitchers who hailed from Peoria and also played at the Evanston, Il. campus before being drafted.
Btw-If the White Sox are into quality players with initials, I wouldn’t mind seeing them in the mix for J.T. Realmuto as well. They certainly have the assets to satisfy the Marlins and Realmuto is said to be looking for a Buster posey type extension which the White Sox could certainly afford.
I hope the Braves say no. I’d rather they re-up Anibal.
At 36 no way i give him a 3y/48M. I’d give him a 2 year 30M with an vesting option at another 15 though with a 2M buy out. He might be one of the better pitchers available but some of his numbers in recent years have me a little cautious. But hard to argue with the results i suppose.
Agreed, that seems to be a fair deal!
I think that’s a fair compromise with the vesting option but is it even possible to have a buyout on vesting option? Did you mean it converts to a team option with a buyout if he doesn’t reach it?
I remember his last tenure with the Astros. Still gives me nightmares. I hope it’s a no go for the ‘stros.
He’s a different pitcher now. Learned how to throw up in the zone with his fastball and somehow it just works now
Would not be surprised if he ends up with the Jays again. Word had it when he was a FA after the 2015 season he and his family had a strong desire to go back to Toronto. He supposedly never got back to the Pirates on their offer after the Jays made their offer to him. Could see that happening again.
I heard the same. I predicted Happ and Lynn to the Jay’s. Make it so Shapiro.
Shapiro = picard confirmed
Happ to the Jay’s or Lynn to the Reds would wreck my 0 for 50.
To put them over the top, they need a Kluber, Thor, or Bauer.
No interest in kluber. The Yankees rocked him twice in the playoffs and he’s 33.
He wouldn’t be facing the Yankees.
Reds should not touch him. Great American Ballpark will be suicide.
Yanks get Fat Lynn. Book it.
da Yankees hierarchy has been making excuses for Machado for 10 days now.
They are the front runners for him. They’ll find a stopgap 3B (Harrison?) until Didi gets back. Anduhar goes in a package for a quality starter.
I’m not even that hot on Happ for two years, let alone three.
angels? sleeping?
Let me get this straight. Cashman won’t offer Happ, who is in great shape and takes great care of himself, a contract that covers his age 38 season, but he has no problem giving fat, slob C.C. Sabathia , whose knees are bone on bone, a contract for his age 38 season ( in which he will turn 39 in July). GIVE HAPP A 3rd YEAR, CASHMAN!!!
With out CC the Yanks would need 2 pitchers. CC’s 1/$8 mil has nothing to do with what they offer Happ. This ain’t the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Also, what a douche you are? Say what you want about CC’s weight but he’s a professional athlete getting a check and succeeding whereas we’re spending our spare time talking about athletes. You’re a joke dude. And it’s not even a Yankee thing. Barto Calon is in his 40s and still playing ball whereas neither of us could make it on to an Independent League team. How wack are you?
The Astros will try to low ball as they have done this off season.
Reds, please pass