DECEMBER 10: The Blue Jays have explored the possibility of a reunion with Happ, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports (Twitter links). The Brewers are said to be among the National League clubs with some level of interest.
DECEMBER 9: Twelve months ago, the Yankees made veteran left-hander J.A. Happ one of their key offseason signings. After a solid 2018 divided between the Blue Jays and Yankees, New York re-upped Happ to a two-year, $34MM contract. Now, the club is “actively” seeking a taker on the trade market for the 37-year-old Happ, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
The fact that the Yankees want to get out of the Happ deal isn’t particularly surprising, considering he’s slated to count $17MM against the luxury tax next season. If the Yankees succeed in signing right-hander Gerrit Cole, the No. 1 free agent on the board and someone who has a shot at a $300MM-plus contract, moving some portion of Happ’s money could help them avoid the highest level of the luxury tax ($248MM). As things stand, it seems probable they’ll blow past the first level of $208MM and likely surpass the second penalty of $228MM, Sherman notes.
In moving Happ, the Yankees would obviously be selling low. While Happ has long been a quality starter in the majors, things didn’t go well last season. Even though Happ did close on a good note during the final month of the regular campaign, he still ended the year with a subpar 4.91 ERA/5.22 FIP and 7.81 K/9 against 2.73 BB/9 over 161 1/3 innings. Going forward, Happ’s contract includes a $17MM vesting option for 2021 if he totals 165 innings or 27 starts next year. With those factors in mind, the Yankees don’t figure to have an easy time finding someone to take Happ off their hands.
Gonna have to throw a prospect in there to get somebody to eat that salary
I see Mariners making a move for him
Exactly. They can’t trade him and cover part of the salary. Would have to throw in a good to great prospect to get another team to take on that salary.
I disagree. In case you both aren’t paying attention to the pitching market, Happ’s salary is reasonable and certainly not a sunk cost. This is not a Jacoby Ellsbury situation by any means. I don’t think the Yankees will have to move the sun and the moon to find a taker for him. Lots of pitching hungry teams Happ can make an impact on. He’s just not the ace the Yankees need to spend on.
That is a bad contract. He’d be lucky to get 1 year 5 million if he were a free agent
The bat boy is getting 1 year 5 million this off-season.
Pomeranz is the best comp out there. Lefty arm put up 0.7 WAR last year and just got $8.5MM AAV. Happ put up 1.3 WAR in a down year after putting up around 3.0 per year the previous 3 years. He wouldn’t do worse on AAV than Pomeranz.
Cole Hamels just got 1 year $18 MM after putting up 2.3 WAR last year.
In other words, get real
you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about beisbolista. Happ’s contract is bad no matter how you look at it
Pomeranz was signed based on his valuation as a reliever, and based on the level of his performance in that role.
Not a good comp IMO because happ didn’t show a high level of performance as a reliever.
You’re right, starters are generally valued more highly than relievers
Where’s your comps?
Pomeranz got his contract because of his great 2nd half…
Using his season WAR isn’t a good comp
Pomeranz is also 6 years younger….
And 8.5 is closer to 5 mil than 17 mil
Who cares about war. Tired of all this millennial stats
@beisbolista – a quality reliever is worth much more than a piss poor starter
$17 million is reasonable for a guy coming off a near 5 ERA 1.3 whip campaign?
I might have to go back up and read, but I dont think they said Yankees would need to throw in ‘the sun’ AND ‘the moon’ to move Happ..
In fact, I think I remember them saying ‘prospect’..
Only to Yankees fans that want to rationalize their belief they can trade any of their non injured players without eating salary. All Yankees are great because they put on a Yankee uniform. You didn’t know that? Bringing up WAR in reference to pitchers is a pretty piss poor way to compare them. WAR with pitchers is very skewed. It has too much to do with innings pitched. The starters get WAR stats unbelievably high while even the best relievers finish with miniscule wins above replacement. There are plenty of MLB starting pitchers that were below average and would never even be considered or the hall of fame with WAR’s well above Mariano Rivera. Mariano Rivera was the only unanimous first ballot hall of famer in history. What does that tell you? Would you have rather had those #4 starters on your team for their entire careers or Mariano Rivera on your team for his entire career? Using WAR as a way to reference the value of any pitcher is skewed at best. To even bring up WAR for a reliever as comparison to a starter is just down right stupid. Happ’s contract sucks. Trading for Happ was stupid in the first place. Extending him was even dumber. No team in baseball thinks Happ is worth $17 million a year. The Yanks will either have to eat some of that contract or trade prospects to get rid if it. Probably both. Especially now that they know Cole is gonna laugh at their $245 million offer.
TLTR
besbolista is right. If current market value for CH is $18M, Happ at $17M is not far off.
You’re clueless if you’re trying to rationalize JA Happ being worth his contract. Beisbolista is just another Yankee jock strap licker. Hamels is 20x the pitcher Happ is.
You must be a Brave jockstrap licker if you think Hamels is that much better than Happ. Enjoy your garbage 3B since you now can’t afford Donaldson. LOL
The bat boy is not 37 years old.
Pitching hungry teams. For pictures who can actually pitch!
Wrong
@Matheny –
Hamels is a much better pitcher than happ.
Happ for his career typically grades out as 10-15% below league average according to his era+. With the exception of 3 seasons, he floats in the 80s to around 90, where an era+ of 100 is considered league average.
What’s more, his 2019 FIP was 5.22, and, era+ came in right at his typical 90.
What you saw in 2019 wasn’t an aberration/regression with upside, it’s what they guy usually has put out his whole career comparable to his peers. (The ball may have raised his numbers, but it did to everyone and his relative worth was inchanged.)
Hamels on the other hand has been above average in era+ his ENTIRE career except one season a long time ago where he posted a 97. Every other year has been above 100. A typical hamels year rates in the high 1-teens, and often way above that. So as a floor you expect hamels to be about 18-30% BETTER than average. His FIP was also just a shade over 4, putting him overy 1.1 runs lower than happ in 2019.
That puts hamels about 30-40% better than happ, numbers don’t lie.
Waaaaah… I dont understand the new stats and I demand everyone stop talking about them…waaaaah Rbi batting average and wins !
The line isn’t long for a 37 year old pitcher coming off a subpar year.
Honus Wagner had 100 RBI and a .381 batting average, and that’s the way I likes it!
Cole Hamels was having a good 2019 season before he strained his oblique. He admittedly came back too early and his production dropped.. Hamels is also a little younger than Happ. who was pretty bad until the last month of the season.
LOL
@Bige99 Tell that to the Blue Jay’s and the Brewers
This is about taking advantage of the Yankees’ need to move his salary to make room for Cole.
If you are another team, and you know this move is only going to make the Yankees more formidable, why wouldn’t you ask for prospects to help them out?
If I were a rebuilding team, I would absolutely require a decent prospect to help the Yankess shed salary.
Translation: I hate the yankees soooo much so no team should do anything to help them unless they get torres and judge in the deal.
Lol, sorry that’s not how things work. They’ll move Haap and sign Cole and you’ll just have to deal with it.
Perhaps you didn’t notice that Pomeranz became a STUD lefty RP after failing miserably as a SP
Lol. He said the line isn’t long and you list two teams….good one!
This isn’t about hating the Yanks. Having a 37 yr old starting pitcher making 17M with a potential vesting option is always going to be a risky contract.
And considering he had a terrible year, his list of suitors is very low. It’s not horrendous, but the Yankees will need to eat most of the contract or package a decent prospect. Probably not anyone in their top 30 though
No team is going to take Happ’s salary without a top 30 prospect included. You do realize that only 25 guys play on one major league team, right? The #30 prospect isn’t much to salivate over
Happ is probably worth about $10-12m, so he’s overpaid by about $5m. The real problem is that vesting option for the next season at $17m. For a 38 year old pitcher that is pretty scary. The Yankees would need to be very creative here.
You can use WAR all you want but you sound like an idiot if that’s the only stat you use.
Get real.
The Brewers are cutting payroll. If they are spending 17 mil it is not on a 37 year old P. The Yankees would need to eat at least 10 mil of that for the Brewers to take on that contract.
If happ was so desirable, he’d be gone already… or never offered. There’s a reason no team has jumped on him and his underwater contract… toss in a player…Frazier, anyone??
Not to mention the Brewers just traded Chase Anderson who was 5 years younger and had better numbers in 2019. He was set to earn about 8.5 mil.
@AtlSoxFan
If Pomeranz was signed solely to be a reliever based off of 26 IP then the Padres are fools. I’m sure they will try him as a SP too.
I get what your saying but if New York eats 6 million a year and add say Clint Frazier ( so he can replace Braun next year) . That is absolutely doable and should be done.
Well, to be fair, he was an absolute monster.
@Perky. What was your reaction like when the Internet was developed?
Yeah, but Pomeranz sucks as a starter. What an awful signing that one was.
@southbrach
You must be a fool if you think Pomz is going to be a starter. He was an elite reliever in that sample. Much like Brad Hand, Andrew Miller and all the failed starters that came before him. He’s a reliever.
And any Yankees fans thinking they’ll be able to unload Happ’s cash w/o including a prospect of consequence should prob take a look at the Cozart trade and reconsider their position.
Dude Happ is 37 years old and has 2 years left on his deal. It’s a bad contract whether you want to admit you were wrong or not
The vesting option for 2021 really limits his value because if a team takes him, they then have to limit his innings to avoid automatically paying him another 17 mil. So that limits his appeal to. And since NY won’t want to pay some of his deal, they may need to put a prospect with him.
The Mariners have no need for Happ since they’re not going to be contenders next year. I see the Brewers or Reds going after him
Or Angels, Padres, Rangers, Twins or White Sox — maybe a few other teams too
But if Jerry can involved as a third team, he could satisfy his itch.
I don’t think the argument is that they need him. It’s that (like the browns a few years ago with Osweiler) we can afford him (but the Yankees would need to include prospects) and if he turns in a decent start, maybe we can dump him and cash for another prospect.
Well, Happ sucks so taking on a prospect with Happ would make sense for the M’s.
If I’m Dick Williams I tell the Spankees thanks, but no thanks on Happ…but thank you for Sonny Gray…
And he will say, thanks for tuning into the playoffs. Improve on that 4th place finish and then talk
M’s already have three lefties slotted for the rotation. I don’t see this one as a great match.
As I’m not hopeful for the GMen making any sort of impact this season, I’d be ok with Zaidi throwing him into our rotation if Cashman threw in one high level prospect. We need a 3-4 slot starter (really a 5 too, but Farhan is going to give the five slot to the group of young
Guys to see if any of them stick).
One high level prospect? Like who?
Going to cost them great prospects to get rid of Happ. Dude is terrible.
Great prospects? Your new to baseball I’m guessing or just a bias anti Yankee fan. Great prospects? Lol yeah they will trade a tree top 5 prospects to get rid of Happ! Lol
Would they have to throw in Frazier as part of trade?
@todd76
Really depends on your notion of “great” prospect. I can’t see the Yanks giving up a top 5 guy.
I think the Yanks will eat $10 mil. Happ for 1/$8 is not bad. He was a really good pitcher in 2018 and it’s likely just a 1 year deal.
The Mariners are actually the perfect fit. Their plan was to not compete last year of this year and they can take on the salary.
The question is what do the Yankees have to give them to make it worth their while for the future?
Perhaps Clint Frazier and a low level prospect for taking haap on?
If haap rebounds they can trade him at the deadline, if not they get 2 players for 2021 and beyond for taking on his salary in a lost year.
Stanton and Happ for Myers and Hosmer
Happ to SD?
Hahaha. Exactly, my first thought when I saw this. AJ Preller is a complete sucker.
For Myers
Would love to see this happen but Myers’ contract is even worse. Padres would need up some money.
For Hosmer
SD would have to include 60M
Hosmer Left handed and hits for contact. I think he’d hit well at yankee stadium. And plays defense.
As a Yankees fan I’d have no problem with this. I don’t think this is about the money at all, but just moving away from Happ. Myers fills the need for protection with an iffy Voit allowing Lemahieu to be utilized elsewhere, and his ability to play elsewhere is a help as well.
@Salzilla
What’s “iffy” about Voit? He had an injury. I don’t think his bat needs to be questioned at this point. But Will Myers is way too much to be a “back-up” and he doesn’t save the Yanks any money.
The injury does make it iffy, though. Was he the same after? Nope. So there’s definite question marks there. I like Voit, but his sample size isn’t big enough not to bring in a back-up.
Agree, for Myers.
This is the kind of deal that could benefit a team like the Royals who have new TV money. Take the contract with a couple of prospects and see what happens.
Royals rebuilding. Why would they take on the cash knowing they have no shot at winning. Even with a prospect added… they’re a low budget team. Can’t handle that salary.
Why not? Look at there current payroll. If they take 17 million what are they losing. Not like they are gonna need their money to make a big free agent signing
It does make sense if they sent along a prospect or two. They get that prospect and if happ rebounds, they flip him at the deadline for more. Whether it is a good idea really depends on what the Yankees would send along with him
@johnrealtime
Padres took Headley’s 1/$13 mil due for Brian MItchell who was far from a “top prospect”.
I could see maybe…
Happ, Chance Adams, a lower level prospect and $10 mil for a lower level Padres prospect.
Every single MLB team can handle that salary. Every single MLB team can afford to sign both Gerritt Cole and Anthony Rendon, and still be profitable. Fans should stop saying that billionaires can’t afford to pay employees.
Marlins couldn’t. They had to cut payroll just to afford their payments.
Do we really consider then a MLB team?
Marlins are Jeters piggy bank.
Some of you guys have this incredibly warped idea of what other people can “afford.”
Yes, as a billionaire, you can afford something that costs many millions of dollars, but that doesn’t make it a good investment. When you look at it through the scope of the fact that your average pro-sports team turns profits in the neighborhood of $10-$40M in a given year, then why… ON EARTH… would any of them want to spend $17M on JA Happ? Or $70M on Rendon and Cole? To turn their $40M profit into a $30M loss? Or because they believe that adding those two players is going to create an additional $100M in profit?
You’ve got to be realistic. Just because you HAVE a lot of money, doesn’t mean that you want to lose or waste that money. In fact, people who HAVE a lot of money are MORE likely to understand the economics of throwing that money away, since, in most cases, they’re smart businessmen who’ve worked VERY HARD to be in the positions they’re in.
A multi-billionaire doesn’t want to waste $17M any more than a middle class guy with a couple of kids wants to waste $1,700. Or $170 for that matter. Unless it’s going to provide VALUE to them, make their lives better or help them make money in excess of what they’re spending.
Well said
Great post! Too many armchair GMs with no basic understanding of economics and cry foul that players make too much money. Then you have the other crowd arguing about “cheap” owners who only want to line their own pockets and screw local fans.
For the life of me, I can’t understand why anybody would want to own a sports team.
Plopping down $2 Billion for a chance to lose money in a given year with an upside of what? $10-40M? On the absolute high end you’re talking about a 2% rate of return on investment. If I’m a billionaire, I can get a heck of a lot more than 2% on my money, so I’m LOSING MONEY just OWNING THE TEAM. For example, my 401K is up like 11% this year. And that doesn’t have NEARLY the investment power we’re talking about.
The upside on an investment in a sports franchise, really, comes when you sell it. And again… if I own the team for 20 years, I can double my money when I sell it? Dude… I can double my money a LOT faster than that.
And in exchange for tying up a ton of money on an investment with a pathetic rate of return, you get to be demonized by fans who think you’re cheap or stupid or both. You’re in a HIGHLY public position, the press is almost UNIVERSALLY negative, it’s damaging to whatever your brand is in an age where companies spend tens/hundreds of millions of dollars to establish a brand.
So yeah, where is the upside here? I must be missing it.
1. Ego. Some of them simply want to show off, to a new audience, how disgustingly rich they are. And since they probably already bought every “toy” conceivable, buying a sports franchise is sorta the last thing realistically available thing (although I believe trips to outer space could tempt a few, who might actually be aliens anyway, and just want to go home..)
2. Way too many of these guys think they’re smarter than everyone else, in regards to how to buy a championship, and are convinced they’re going to win everything every year.
There may be more, but those are the most logical theories to me.
You take on the cash in order to get a prospect or two. Happ is gone at the end of the year.
I don’t know why, but Kansas City seems to be willing to spend money on a team that will finish 20+ games under .500 for at least 2 or 3 more years. They are not actively trying to move the bloated salaries of Kennedy or Duffy, and they insist on putting a prohibitive talent cost on Merrifield.
Gotta have someone to market?
Saw that one coming, meaning they’ll be announcing the Cole signing soon, n ditching Happ would help payroll.
Would only get a slapdick prospect in return
Lol slapdick prospect gotta love that Blake Snell quote
Yankees will have to eat some of that contract even if they include Clint Frazier
If they give Frazier to take on Happ’s contract I hope Dipoto calls on it. We have extra money to spend and will need someone to throw 150+ innings.
If he bounces back maybe could even get something at the deadline.
Yeah we have a lot of outfield prospects but a few are a couple years away and like all prospects a couple will bust.
Clint Frazier is a mediocre DH
I have an idea
How about the Yankees eat their bad draft pick and terrible signing for once?
Frazier turned in a pretty fine season in his first prolonged exposure to big league pitching. He had some problems in the outfield. He’s also coming back from multiple concussions that cost him almost an entire season out there. To call him a DH is to deliberately dumb down the argument, but that’s your goal, isn’t it? So let’s just be honest.
Based on what Frazier showed last year, he’s still very likely to be an outstanding performer on the offensive side of the ball 20+% better than league average with the bat. And based on his tools and athleticism, to say that he can’t manage to be an AVERAGE DEFENDER at a corner outfield spot is, again, extremely disingenuous.
@solaris You’re drunk.
Now I agree with you.
Happ and Frazier to Pirates.
Frazier works in the short RF at PNC. Pirates desperately need power and protection for Bell.
Yanks would have to eat 9 mil on Happ, but his return would be an upgrade for the new look Bucs
I’d think if they committed to 9m in each of 2020 & 2021 then frazier might get a deal done.
I’m not sure about pirates wanting to pay Frazier going forward if going full rebuild, but, I suppose they could flip him for prospects
You’re not getting Frazier in exchange for eating $8M for a year of JA Happ. Especially when JA Happ would be a significant upgrade for your garbage rotation.
How about this, we’ll give you Happ for Chris Archer straight up. Improves your pitching staff considerably. Kind of like Glasnow would if he was still there.
I think Yanks will have to pay a good part of the contract which doesn’t fulfill the goal of shedding his salary.
Are you sure? For some reason, I thought that salary to players not on your roster didn’t count. Are the Mets still counting Bonilla’s money against the luxury tax threshold?
deferred money is different
Anonymous Cow. ♂️
*Hand palming face*
Deferred money is counted in the AAV of the contract for LT purposes. So, Bonilla’s doesn’t count (also no LT when he signed the contract).
That’s not how that works. Yes money eaten still count against the threshold. And no your example is not relevant lol.
Take this for what it is worth but today on the YES network they were talking about the Stras contract in regards to what Cole might get and the Bonilla contract came up. They stated that Mets ownership still do count Bonilla deferred $1mill annual salary against player payroll.
Payroll for sure but luxury tax is different
I mean, eating a chunk of the contract is better than paying the entire thing off. I can see the Yankees covering 5-7 mil
Cashman to call A’s Billy Beane to make this trade happen. Of course, the Bombers will have to throw in some money to pay for Happ’s salary…
As an A’s fan I’d like to see that. Paying 8 of the 17 mill would be reasonable, seems like that would be a standard one year contract for a bounce back pitcher that was recently bad but isn’t far removed from mlb success. I dunno though, these trades always seem to go below market value, I’d be surprised if they got someone to take on more than 5 mill of his contract.
Pirates and As are in the same boat
Yeah. In that park, Happ would gain some value.
Luzardo, Fiers, Manea, Montas, Puk, tell me where Happ fits?
I could see the Jays getting in on this as long as a couple top prospects come with him.
Couple of top prospects? Lol, yeah sure.
Jay’s will take him back so he can retire in torontob
I could see the Jays taking back Happ, but only if the Yankees are also sending Andujar and Frazier with him. lol
You sure that’s enough? I’m thinking Torres and Judge would need to be added as well. Severino as well to seal it for sure.
What he is saying is don’t take Happ for any reason or package. He’s done.
Definitely the Jays could take Happ. But they won’t take him at 17m, perhaps 12m. And they would need a prospect back as well.
It would be a good move, Jays are gonna suck bigtime this year again anyway.
I don’t see any reason Jays should ask for salary relief on the contract tbh. Payroll shouldn’t be a problem for the Jays this year, and the 5 mill could net them a better prospect back, which should be the focus here
He’s overpaid is why you ask. Look at his era+ and fip, numbers show he’s 10-15% below average, hitting age37/38 season, and, either 1) going to hit that low 165 innings to vest a 2nd overpriced year, 2) be injured to not vest, and thus is a bad value, or 3) will be a disgruntled clubhouse nightmare because you manipulate his innings to prevent vesting.
I’m not saying hes worth the money/contract. I am saying taking on the money doesn’t hurt them, go for the better prospect attached by taking on more money instead of looking for salary relief.
Salary relief and Cashman has to take back Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney. Seems like a fair trade if the Yankees throw in Urshela or Deivi Garcia, who is your only actual prospect and sone overhyped name…
So let’s use our payroll flexibility in Toronto to help our AL East rival Yankees get Gerrit Cole for the next 7-8 years? No thanks.
The Jays incentive here is two-fold.
1) Get a decent-to-good prospect in the trade.
2) Flip Happ at the deadline when he pitches more in line with what he’s done for the last few years. Then his option is someone elses problem, and you add another prospect or two. Based on the way Happ closed out the season, whatever problems he had were likely worked out. Probably to do with either mechanical issues or pitch selection working with Rothschild.
If I were the Yankees, I’d hang onto the guy. I’d bet on Happ bouncing back a lot heavier than I’d bet on Domingo German replicating anything close to his 2019.
IMO Jays are the perfect situation to take him on. Aside from having the money, they have the need in the rotation, he has past success there, and fans like him. It makes too much sense, which is why he will end up somewhere else
Seriously? Let’s use our payroll flexibility in Toronto to help our AL East rival Yankees sign Cole for 7~8years!
Maybe we can give Cashman Urshela for cash considerations, too? Oh, wait… Would he take back Drury and McKinney for Deivi Garcia instead?
Jays should be all over this.
Nope
Yup.
What prospect(s) they attaching?
Exactly. I’m not all that informed on the Yanks system.
Who, realistically, would/could they add to the trade?
Frazier maybe
Idk I think that vesting option is attainable so 34M, thinking if someone will eat all of it, Andujar + X
they arent trading Andujar in a salary dump
Yeah, he’d be part of a separate deal if they were to trade him.
Why would the Jays want another red headed head case in the OF? We already have your previous garbage in Drury and McKinney, not to mention Fisher…
Why not Philly? They’re always looking for starters. Happ didn’t exactly impress in 2019 but he’s had good seasons and he only comes with a one-year deal.
The problem though is that the Yanks don’t look like they want to eat any of that contract. That’s gonna make it really tough to move him. If that’s the only reason, Yanks will have to sweeten the deal.
Realistically it may as well be a 2 year deal.
He is going to really want a fair shake at hitting that vesting option. If you manipulate his innings to deny it you’re asking for a clubhouse cancer.
You got that right. No team is going to acquire Happ without intending to give him a regular turn. Only an injury will prevent him from getting 165 innings. That makes him exceedingly difficult to trade. I wouldn’t want him without something significant attached.
Happ’s option is at 165 innings or 27 starts. Neither of those is a slam dunk these days.
I think 58 pitchers hit 165 innings in 2019. That works out to less than 2 guys per team in the crudest possible way of looking at it.
And 27 starts is pretty easy to avoid if he’s not pitching well. If Happ pitches poorly, nobody bats an eye about using an opener and then bringing him out of the pen. Or skipping him. Or just sending him to the pen.
And if he comes back to form and stays healthy, then I doubt the team that gets him minds having him on the hook for another year at that point.
i honestly barely prefer him to Pivetta, VV, or Arrieta at this point, so unless Yanks are eating most of the money that should hopefully be a no.
As much as I’d hate the Phillies to take on yet another terrible contract, it does make a bit of sense. A rotation of Nola, Wheeler, Happ, a hopefully healthy Arrieta and Eflin seems like a massive improvement over the mess that was 2019. Then they can spend the rest of the Winter Meetings focusing on infield/center field help. Happ would likely have more success in the NL anyway. And he’s certainly used to pitching in Philly.
i feel like they can do better than Happ for that money though. i still like Gio Gonzalez, even with the injury history, or perhaps Tanner Roark.
I don’t think either would give you what Happ can, but yes, I’d certainly like Roark over Happ. Gio may not even play in 2020 so we’ll see.
This to me is a very big sign that they at least feel they are on the verge of acquiring Jared Cole. Would make his first year salary not as bad of a head if they can unload this guy.
Someone’s getting fired if they sign Jared Cole.
The guy from subway who is currently in jail?
Still getting his footlongs.
Why? Jared Cole is an amazing Australian quantum physicist whose brilliance would make the Yankees’ analytics department light years ahead of everyone else’s. Go for it!
#Fail
Could also see the White Sox possibly getting in on Happ. They were interested in signing him the last time he was a FA. Would have to think Yanks would have to eat at $7m this year and half of next if he vests.
Happ and Clint Frazier to the Marlins for Jose Urena and Lewis Brinson.
Miami takes on Happ while getting a offense upgrade in Frazier. Gives Yanks a wildcard option in CF in Brinson and rotation depth in Urena at a cheap cost. Still shaved off 11 million or so forom their payroll.
But why would the Marlins do that?
For Frazier. They have salary room to take on Happ
Brinson is garbage abd Urena is overrated and costs more than the league minimum.
Brinson is hot garbage. Frazier is leagues ahead of Brinson as a hitter…which means he actually makes contact.
Frazier is on the cusp of being a hugely overrated ballplayer. Him and is 0.1fwar in 19
Frazier is a better hitter than Grichuk, who Toronto inexplicably gave a big extension. Nice try, tho. Have another LaBatt Blue.
Nice straw man…
Who’s talking about Grichuk?
isnt exactly a hugh sample size.
J.A Happ for Ian Happ!
Ummm, what’s the Happs?
No Chance that Happ’ns
so youre saying they need to throw in Chance?
Happ for Jed Lowrie
Mets need a starter, Yankees could use the infield depth
No
wow. intriquing.
Yankees would need to toss in money or prospects too happ isn’t close worth 17mil to be a pen guy
And have another hack on the DL all year like Ells? I rather give wade a hot to be the backup and late inning pinch runner.
I could see the White Sox making this move
I agree with Chisox. They dont have the resources to sign a big name pitcher. Happ can bridge the gap and get a mid level prospect out of this deal.
no reasources? where are theys spending all their money then?
Trying to trade a 37 year old pitcher with 2 years and $34 mil left on the contract
Can you imagine the Nats when Stras is 37???
We have a 37 year old pitcher that we have on the books for 2 years $70 mil, how can we get your team to take him?
Is one year can you read second year is a vesting option and i doubt the Nats trade Strasburg in the future
Sorry man was your auto correct messing up
Don’t understand. Looks like you’re trying to explain how the contract works
I do agree, the Nats will not trade him in the future, but not by choice.
They gave him a no trade clause. Today, they chose not to trade him in the future.
@Stanley –
The 165IP threshold is low enough its a virtual lock if healthy. You have 2 choices here, take your pick.
1) Happ has zero chance of staying healthy and cannot hit 165IP. So why trade for a guy you know you’ll be paying to ride the IL?
2) Happ should be a reliable starter and is going to hit 165IP, so, it’s effectively a 2 yr 34m contract.
Any attempt to manipulate his innings will create a clubhouse cancer you wouldn’t want anyways, so, that’s not really an option.
Certain teams would be excited by the prospect of Clint Frazier being attached.
I’d agree, but also look at it like this.
Frazier has about 5 seasons control left I think. Happ is an overpay by about 20-24m once year 2 vests.
That means unless money is kicked in, you spread the overpay onto the other asset, probably making it effectively as if you paid 4-5m per year more for frazier on top of what his personal salary is.
Frazier has potential. But performance to date has given a value of about 5m per at best if you project it out and compare a FA replacement cost.
So. Unless frazier kicks it up to a higher gear, he becomes an overpay once you impose happs excess dollars onto frazier as a true cost of having the player.
And there’s the issue. Yankees either need to pay down money, or, the acquiring team isn’t getting value – porcello is a better pitcher than happ, younger, more innings, and less salary, with no prospect cost. Frazier would cost more than a replacement once contracts were equalized so, no value there… why trade?
Needs to be clint plus 8-10m per
1) 58 pitchers hit 165 innings last year. It’s not a virtual lock. Your thinking is a bit dated. Aside from top-of-the-rotation arms, starters rarely pitch past the 5th inning these days, as teams don’t like the starter to face a lineup a 3rd time.
2) If Happ pitches poorly, who bats an eye about sending him to the pen or starting an opener and piggybacking him behind an opener? Using him as “headliner” wouldn’t draw a ton of scrutiny. Heck, the Yankees were debating doing that with James Paxton last year, since he was struggling in the first inning consistently in the first half.
Long and short, there’s very little guarantee he hits that option. For example, he finished at 162 innings last year, and only because the Yanks were injury-ravaged.
If he PITCHES WELL ENOUGH to hit those numbers, the team that gets him probably doesn’t mind picking up that option.
I can see the white Sox as a match. Yankees would have to eat a gokd chunk of the salary unless the attach a prospect
Pirates could eat a year of that salary and gain a prospect or two in the process. Trading Marte and Kela saves that money anyways.
Happ and his boat-anchor contract plus Miguel Andujar to the Tigers for a bag of scuffed baseballs.
Honest question:
If they offered Happ and $17M, will his salary be completely removed as far as the Luxury Tax?
I mean, yeah, try to get a warm body in return of course but if the objective is to clear room …
The 17M would stay with NYs luxury tax salary
Not sure why everyone thinks Yanks will have to throw in a top prospect…. many teams are in the market for starting pitching, and with the current trend in contracts i.e. Strasburg, Wheeler, Cole, his salary is comparatively reasonable, thus the likely will not have to contribute nearly as much. His WAR suffered last (1.2) year but he’s career 21 WAR. September was a great month of sub-2 ERA pitching. Overall, he’s pretty solid and would improve many rotations as a #3 or 4 SP. I think more teams will be in on him without adding high-level prospects unless they multiple players in return, as stated in the prospective deal with Miami above.
Queue the Yankee-bashers!!!
“…His WAR suffered last (1.2) year…”
That’s all we need to know. Don’t try to justify it. His best days are most likely behind him.
No justification, it suffered. That doesn’t lower SP demand and exponentially increasing contracts. I stand by the fact that they will never trade him, pay down his salary and also add Frazier and Andujar – that’s laughable, not justification, again, depending on the return. They will not trade that just to dump his salary – that’s poor business.
They most certainly can and likely will trade him to simply dump his salary. If you can explain to me how he fits in the 2020 plans then have at it, but you’re wasting your time. Any team willing to pay most or even all of his salary that will not compete with them for the postseason is a dream to the Cashman. He is wasted payroll for a world series caliber squad.
His velocity didn’t drop. His peripherals were large unchanged. He was victimized by the longball in a juiced-ball season.
His OPS against in 2019:
At Yankee Stadium: .838
Away from Yankee Stadium: .727
If anything, he’s probably a candidate for a Sonny Gray-style bounceback if he gets out of NY.
Rather than war or era I like FIP/xFIP and/or ERA+.
Problem with happ is threefold:
1) he’s 37, so decline is a much bigger specter than say a 30 year old;
2) he effectively has 2 years left in your best case scenario – 165 IP is a very low threshold for a SP that doesn’t have playing time manipulated, and, so either he will be healthy and likely meet it, or, you’re trading for a guy hoping he doesn’t stay healthy so as to miss the mark… and then why acquire him?
3) his FIP was north of 5 last season, and a comparable pitcher normally would sign a minor league ST invite deal at his age. If youth was on his side, then maybe you see a 1-2 year deal worth 5-8m per, perhaps with incentives. His deal therefore is seriously underwater.
I think he has some value, but, I also think that NY is likely to balk at the prospects that need to be attached to clear the contracy. The alternative is paying down the guarantee to a level where I think he’s worth more as a depth piece for the amount of cbt salary they save.
he’s terrible and expensive
Andujar and Happ for Goodwin? Angel’s eat all the money ? or would Angel’s need to add more ?
They would have to add some prospect, probably an SP in the 10-15 range, Sandoval?
Someone already said it, the Jays look like a perfect fit.
Yanks fans: are you throwing in Frazier or an arm like Sikkema and paying about $5m of his salary?
He certainly won’t come back to hurt you in Toronto next year…
Toronto is not getting Frazier or Sikkema along with Happ.
Then find a way to pay for Cole some other way.
Happ isn’t strictly a salary dump. Jordan Lyles received $16 million and he’s terrible. Happ > Lyles.
If Yanks eat $5 million of Happ’s contract, there’s no prospect going back the other way. Plus, Happ will help Toronto, who has close to zero starting pitching.
I repeat: find another way to pay for Cole then. Shaving the bulk of that salary to Happ off may seem insignificant but for lux tax in 2020 it matters to ownership. And, the Yanks need every one of the 26 guys to get a World Series next year and Happ doesn’t fit that equation. Cole does.
Last thing, Happ can help Toronto all day long because they still won’t contend or threaten New York one bit.
Finally a common sense response. Was someone else typing under your name above? You just typed something consistent with what I was saying above.
Maybe too many cold beers?
Never too many!!! 🙂
Valid point
You realize the Yankees can keep Happ and still sign Cole, correct?
Grichuk. Just have the Yankees take his contract and be done with it.
Happy and Frazier to Phillies?
Happ for Belt? Or Happ, Clarke Schmidt, Antonio Cabello for Chris Shaw and Garett Williams, Giants take the contract
Lots of delusional fans on this Yankee thread, tonight.
Coming from the guy thinking Happ and his inflated salary hold value to any of the other 29 teams…
Lots of drunk Toronto fans on this Yankee thread, too.
Canadian beer is the best lefty!
Cashman has shown his ingenuity with certain trades (not all of them, of course) but time will tell. I don’t think they will give what most are saying they will to trade Happ. Ultimately, there shouldn’t be hurt feelings because if it happens, we will see. In think @braves4life has a reasonable scenario.
Queue the Yankee-bashing
The yanks aren’t dealing Schmidt, don’t be silly
Is he that good?
Would the White Sox be an option? Give them a veteran presence. The White Sox might be willing to take the contract of Happ plus throw in a decent prospect to the Yanks, not a #1 or #2 ranked but maybe a #3 to the Yanks if they included Andujar
Wouldn’t get Andujar cmon. The prospect that’d be attached would be like Bryan Mitchell type prospect (when he was attached to Chase Headley’s contract). Thinking AAA player who’s blocked in the majors
Happ for Familia…
Yanks save $6M this year plus buy low on a once productive reliever…
Mets get the 5th starter they need and get out of paying Familia next year. Doubt Happ will reach 165innings if he sucks.
No, thanks
No team wants happ. Familia stinks too but happs deal is significantly worse
This is one of the few posts that makes sense.
Dee Gordon is someone else they could trade him for.
Maybe Lowrie.
Maybe Cozart.
Reddick?
Robertson.
Go the other way, for Lester?
It makes no sense. Both Happ and Familia suck, there’s no reason to take on an additional $6 million for the Mets. They can just go get Vargas again and spend way less than $6 million.
So in your scenario, the Mets ‘get out of paying Familia’, but have to pay Happ $6 million more, and this is a positive? There’s seriously no upside for the Mets in your hypothetical trade.
Gotta attach a prospect but it’s doable. Should be plenty of teams interested in Happ and a good prospect. Happy durable and finished last season strong
Really need to know if the Ellsbury grievance isn’t making any headway..
Minnesota, don’t do it! Feels like something you would do but resist! I want no part of old man happ. You could say the yankees were not happ-y with him last year. (Sorry) but for real, the home runs he allows are a problem.
Familla from the Mets, straight up
I’d definitely take him if they attached a nice prospect to go along.
Another Cashman the “ Genius” move. $17 mil for Happless
“What have you done for me lately?”
-100% of Yankees fans
The value for any team trading for Happ will be the prospect(s) the Yankees attach. He’s probably an $8m-$9m one-year deal as a free agent. Yankees want as much off the books so they should add some.
Also have to consider that his ’21 option is not that difficult to attain as he’s healthy.
Totally agree his worth to any team is half his current salary. If the Yanks have to part with one of their never ending solid prospects to allocate that money to Cole or Strasburg then so be it.
The Yankees are trying to move Happ to free up money for Cole. Other teams are aware that the Yankees are going to start the season at a $199 million payroll with their current contact commitments to the other players due raises.
They aren’t freeing up money to sign Cole, they are freeing up money to soften the luxury tax impact signing cole would have and to allow them to make other improvements without going over the highest luxury tax penalty. This is more than just an issue of semantics, as it seems you are alluding to an incorrect conclusion that $208MM is a hard cap, it is not.
Maybe they finally trade Clint frazier
Happ pitches well in Toronto, so the Jays being interested would make sense. However, they aren’t taken his entire contract without a sweetner.
Happ & Frazier to the Reds for a low level prospect would make a lot of sense but I honestly think the Reds are shooting a bit higher this year.
This is not for the Jays. They’ll need all the money to get a legit pitcher come to Toronto. I hope it’s Keuchel.
DK is not a legit pitcher lol.
World Series ring, Cy young, two time All star, 4 gold gloves! I think he’s legit, realistic and doable for the Jays. It would be an overpay, but that’s the only way Jays can get player. Martin, Burnett, Ryan, etc..,
2 prospects from the Yankees Top 10-20 and Happ to the Giants for a bullpen piece sounds about right. And the Giants take all the salary.
Done and Done.
Roansy Contreras (18) and Juan Then (21) prospects.
One would think the Yankees would have to eat salary to sweeten the deal. Especially with the vesting option for 2021 at 165 in the mix.
Then was already traded back to the mariners
Giants need SP help, have the payroll to absorb Happ’s salary, and are prospect hungry. Get him into a pitcher friendly environment, rebuild his value, and flip him again. Makes sense.
Finally, someone else agrees! I agree (said it above, 100 comments up). GMen, I would take him for the year, with a good prospect. We need a 3-4 spot guy, and if he gets hot, flip him for more prospects at the deadline
He’s not the best flip candidate due to the high cost option next season.
You’re better off signing a different arm on a true 1-year make-good deal for those purposes
Even if hes not the best flip candidate, if the prospects included are of real value, it’s probably still worth it for SF. $34M over two seasons wont kill SF, and he could fill a back of the rotation spot while the team rebuilds. You’re right though, I’m sure Zaidi will be involved in the one year make good and flip them contract strategy as well.
totally my thought, gives a chance for happ to rebuild value in a pitcher’s park too and possibly flip at the trade dl if the giants aren’t competitive this year which is likely
No one wants him
Brewer should hop on this… not that there’s much left to trade with.
What are you thinking the Brewers need to offer up to take on Happ’s horrid contract? I’m sure Cashman would be elated to get a bag of balls for him at this point.
We need stubby to enlighten us on how this trade works..and somehow include the Padres and Wil Myers also coming to Milwaukee..without the brewers giving up any talent OR paying a penny of Happ or Myers’ remaining salaries!
I would be asking for Albert Abreu, Clint Frazier and the Yankees to cover $5-6MM of this season’s salary.
Must be please for Happ knowing he’s not wanted after the Yanks signed him to an extension a few years ago.
Screw loyalty.
Loyalty went away with free agency….. Nationals seem to demonstrate loyalty to their performers, i.e., Harper, Rendon, Strasburg, Scherzer….all of whom the Nats would’ve brought back if they could. Anyway, with SP at a premium someone wants Happ. He’s #3 in some rotations. He’s projected below league average in FIP at 5.27 but someone will want him. Time will tell…
Era+ has consistently been in the 80-90% of league average for almost his entire career.
He does ok the first few months in a new location every time he moved, but seems like opponents hit him well once they get a read every single time.
1) Joel Sherman has been ranting about the Yankees payroll flexibility and that money is no object. Then writes a piece about the Yankees needing to shed $34M. Okay, thx Joel. 2) For every CC and Tanaka, there is a Happ, Gray, Eovaldi, and a Burnett. Yankee Stadium and that whole division is full of bandbox parks. Coles success in pinstripes is not guaranteed there by any means.
Davemlaw your crazy I heard some crazy things but that has to be the craziest. 2 prospects and eat salary to trade happ.
How about Happ plus Andujar to ATL for Inciarte, Folty, and a B-level prospect?
Yes, Folty could fold in NY. Yanks still need a CF and another SP the the salaries basically even out.
I would need someone to explain to me why Atlanta would make this move if the NYY aren’t covering some of Happs deal? I get the fact Andujar plays 3B but if you expect Atlanta to take on all of Happs poor contract, I’m thinking NYY would need to give up more or eat part of Happs deal or Atlanta would give up less.
He’s lights out vs Boston though.
Not when it mattered…
no one wanted him last year (most GMs saw the writing on the wall with an aging 37 year old and a fast ball that hits 91 if you’re lucky). so who the hell is gonna take him now without a prospect and cash???
1 of Cashman worst deals. Hal should make Cash pay whatever it takes to dump him. 3 year deal with an attainable option for a 36/37 yo? Cashman. Needs to give up one of his Yankee titles because he can’t multitask well. Lance Lynn was a guy we should of brought back not Happ!
Redsox made same mistake with Eovoldi giving him $68 mil because he had a good month in PS. Like Happ has a good 2 months with yanks. And don’t tell me there were no other options with Dallas K hanging around until June.
Hindsight is 20/20.
At the time happ was basically coming off the 2 best seasons of his career, and played really well both in the Bronx and against their normal schedule.
Maybe he thought happ found another gear, or, maybe he thought happ was uniquely effective in the east. Either way, deal reads to me as a 3 year deal with an escape clause if the guy has health issues. Not great, but, I’ve seen worse.
Also don’t think it’s unreasonable that Happ would go back to being a very serviceable pitcher if they don’t use the mega homer balls next year.
Reddick for Happ.
What about to Happ to Phillies for David Robertson? Would make it a pure salary dump.
2019
Please don’t sign
CC
Happ
Gardner
One down two to go. 2020!
Happ +$ +
Florial
Albert Abreu
For
D-Bags
Archie Bradley
imagine bradley clean shaven lol
Wow, not paying jacoby and now having a fire sale. Yankees quivering in fear of my juggernaut rays
Why not the O’s?
They need someone to eat innings for a year. Can clearly afford the salary and the Yankeses package in a good prospect and it would seem like a no brainer.
If the Phillies want to take on another bad contract, a reunion there might make sense. Happy would be a quality #3 in the NL.
Brewers…and he will suck like Jeff Suppan
Cards give Cecil get Happ Yankees save 10 million no prospects Cards get a 4th starter who should be better in the national league. Carlos stays in the pen or gets traded for a bat.
Here’s a crazy trade proposal that would actually benefit both teams:
Giancarlo Stanton
JA Happ
Clint Frazier
Miguel Andujar
For
Eric Hosmer
Will Myers
CJ Abrams
Michel Baez
The money equals out almost evenly (AAV). Yankees get a left handed hitting 1B to balance out their lineup and two intriguing prospects. Myers plays RF and finally puts up some decent numbers playing in a park that accommodates his batting profile.
Padres rid themselves of Myers with Stanton moving to RF, Pham (I guess) in CF and a Frazier/Grisham platoon in LF. Andujar moves to 1B and they get one of the arms they need for the rotation (after missing on Stras) in Happ, who’s fly-ball tendencies will play better in that park.
It would be the craziest trade since that BoSox/Dodgers swap in 2011.
I know people are gonna murder me for this but its just for fun so relax. Who gets the better deal in this theoretical swap?
Padres get the better deal by a lot in my opinion.
I think the Padres do better in this trade as well but they are also taking on more salary with Stanton, giving the Yankees more long term flexibility. Plus Abrams could be a stud. This trade actually makes some sense lol
Stanton would have to approve though. One of the other problems I see with this deal is the Yankees still have Voit and Ford for much cheaper than Hosmer. Another problem is that I think the Yankees have a RF who is slightly better than Myers, but I’m really not certain on that. Takin on Hosmer just to “balance the lineup” likely is not a good enough reason for the Yankees to get shafted.
Then Judge in RF and Myers in LF. Same difference. If it were Patino instead of Abrams like another poster suggested, would it be less of a shafting?
From the Yankees perspective, this makes it more likely. But, Myers just makes no sense to be included. Take him out and it’s more likely a go. But, then it reaches the point where the Padres are unlikely to do it.
I actually think Hosmer is who the Yankees would want not included on something like this. His contract is also an albatross, but it’s a longer term albatross and Myers could probably play first just as well as him with way less years attached. The problem there though is once he’s out the Padres wouldn’t want to take on that much Stanton money, especially with no way to DH him.
That is true. But, the main point of Hosmer is to balance out Stanton’s K and “balance the Yankees lineup.” So, that point isn’t really relevant in the context of the OPs first proposal. Plus, from the Padres perspective, taking on Stanton’s K and not dumping another high value, long term commitment just does not make sense here.
Can we switch abrams with patino? I think the padres win that trade.
I was all ready to kill this idea, but I’ll give it to you. It actually does make a lot of sense. It won’t happen, because there’s no way the Padres take on that Stanton contract without the ability to DH him, but you’re on the right track.
I like the idea of moving Stanton contract but boy the Yanks are giving up a ton of talent and replacing it with the same cap hit and much less overall talent. Maybe take Frazier and Myers out of deal and then it makes more sense from Yanks perspective.
No to Abrams and hosmer will say no on his no trade clause
You are right it is a crazy trade idea. But, it doesn’t make sense this might be one of the most sensible trade proposals I have seen on here in quite some time. The sad part is it’s too logical for it to happen. As a Yankee fan I would have no issues with this deal as much as I love Stanton you just don’t know what you’re getting going forward.
For that money you can keep him lol
Kind of a weak, freaky photo of Happ throwing. I think sometimes that MLBTR has their own agenda. They’re not Brodies Van Wagenen, but I think they get taken care of when they blow the party line. Seems odd sometimes. I hope not, but if they deny it, it will be stranger. If they don’t deny it…
The picture is off Happ pitching. He’s a pitcher………
Hey I’m all for helping a division rival if it’s mutually beneficial. To do that you have to make them pay out the nose though. Don’t take him back and let them out of luxury tax hell unless the pieces attached are worth it.
They don’t have to attach anyone if they pay around half the salary. They shouldn’t expect anything good in return though
Sure! Will take 17M For the 34M owed. Limit him to 150innings and cut bait. Free year of Happ. Thanks!
Perfect fit for Jays, Brewers, Mariners. Jays would be best fit depending on how much money the Yanks will eat. If the Yankees don’t want to eat any money, then a couple of decent prospects need to be attached. If they are willing to eat maybe half, then no prospects. Should be a trade for the wonderful: player to be named later variety. No club should give any kind of prospect for him.
Deal Grichuk. No cash eating necessary. Get out of the bad extension.
No just international draft money going to Yanks and Yanks eat 5 mill.
Sure, let’s use our payroll flexibility to help our AL East rivals sign Cole. What a dumb idea!
Or just get into the Cole sweepstakes and drive the price up, forcing the Yankees to up their bid. That’s not what ‘s going to happen. Nonetheless there is an opening for the Jays to get rid of Grichuk and the 4 years attached to his contract in the form of JA Happ.
If Happ pitches identical next year he would not have the innings for the option to vest but would need to be held out of 4 starts. I think if the yankees send 7-10 million they can get it done if you look at it like a 1 year deal.
Think I rather have the Canadian maple over happ if I had to choose a starter from the Yankees, but I seriously think they are trying to get a team to take his contract so they can offer more money for cole
I think 100 percent of teams would rather have Paxton. there’s just no reason for the yankees to move him bc he’s not the one losing a rotation slot if they sign Cole
I always said or had a feeling Justin Smoak will be a Yankee.
Justin Smoak for Aj Happ get it done!
Smoak is a free agent. Sign him.
Classic Louie, all misdirected anger and no brains
Didn’t know that thank you.
No probs LouieB.
Happ wouldn’t make many rotations better. At this point Happ is punching the clock until his K ends and he is put out to pasture. Yankees will have to lose any Happ trade to get him off the books — which seems likely b/c they need to clear his $$ for Cole.
As stated weeks ago, Happ for Grichuk, straight up. Make it happen Toronto.
Do you get a commission every time you suggest this?
I probably should.
YOU do realize that Grichuk is only making 12 million in 2020, plus 9.3 million until 2023. He isn’t Myers at 20M a season or Happ at 17M a season, per Cot’s contracts. The way people mention Grichuk, you would believe he is earning 35M a season, which isn’t the case. 12M is the same for a utility fielder and then 9.3 M for an outfielder is a steal, since he still contributed 31 homers, 75 runs scored, 80 RBI’s, a .232 average, and .738 OPS all for the low cost of 7M in 2019. If he repeats that in 2020 for 12 M, it is a bargain, which makes me believe many just hate the player. Every team in the league would take Grichuk and what he gives them in offense for 12M in 2020, 9.3 million until 2023..
YOU do realize the Jays have 7 OFs right now? YOU do realize Grichuk sucks, right? YOU do realize the Jays could use the $10.4 luxury hit Grichuk has for 2021-2022 when the Jays are ready to win. You DO know what winning is, right? I guess you weren’t alive when the Jays were competitive year in and year old.
Happ has 1 year left with benchmarks to add the option. A clean slate for 2021 and better prepared to win with more money and flexibility is exactly what you want. So the “steal” you are mentioning is a lie and laughable at-best. Grichuk is not a bargain and you cannot see that since you do not have the foresight to understand that. You will in 2022 if he’s still a Blue Jay.
Maybe the Yanks will take back Drury and McKinney for Happ!
LOL
Mistake to trade low on him. I think he was distracted last year by his wife’s pregnancy. He went on the paternity list in August. His ERA in September was 1.65. If they bring him back this spring, I think he will win that #5 spot in the rotation. And he will give them a season more like his career norms. He knows how to pitch.
How about a trade built around non-roster Diamondbacks OF Yasmany Tomas and the remaining year and $10MM on his contract with JA Happ plus couple million dollars headed to Arizona?
Tomas and his non-roster salary would give the Yankees a way to pay down Happ’s contract significantly without any of Tomas’s money figuring into their 2020 luxury tax threshold calculation, if I understand the CBA correctly.
J.A. Happ is an ok pitcher, but if the Yankees are trying to unload him with that salary, they are either going to have eat some of the contract, add a prospect to the deal, or take on another contract in the trade.
The Yankees unloaded Chase Headley by attaching nothing more than Bryan Mitchell.
Great idea Jay’s. Help out your division rival by taking on a pitcher and a contract they dont want so they can acquire a pitcher that will thump you for the next 8-9 years. Solid.
Dont worry, Cole will only thump them for 2 or 3 years, then he will regress and the Yankees will be stuck with him. Unfortunately they will just get the next star at that point.
But if the Jays can get a serviceable pitcher and a prospect, might as well.
I love this.
Of course the Brewers are interested
Rockies for Wade Davis. Could be additional pieces added on either side. The Rox add a needed veteran starter that could eat some innings and maybe save some work for the pen. If Davis returns to form, the Yanks add to an already formidable bullpen. Plus, he wouldn’t be as pressured to be “the man” and could work some less stressful innings to get back into form.
without a prospect and mucho cash happless is untradeable. Yet some team will profit from this moron signing by cashman.
It will sound like this. GM from any other teams. “wow, no one wanted him last when we valued him at 7-8 mil. Now not only we will get him for that or less, but are also getting a decent plus level prospect. Its a festivus miracle”
I repeat- a 37/8 year old with a declining FB that tops out at 91 is not a high demand 17 mill for 2-3 years kind of guy.
I think a SP needy team will bite. Yanks might even get away with having to give up little or no salary back depending on which team is interested.