The Angels and Rangers have already been linked to J.A. Happ’s free agent market, and now one of Happ’s former teams is getting in on the action. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports (via Twitter) that the Blue Jays have some interest in bringing the left-hander back for his third stint with the team. Happ would provide further veteran reinforcement to a rotation that has already retained another familiar southpaw in Robbie Ray, and Toronto could conceivably roll out an all-southpaw top three of Hyun Jin Ryu, Ray, and Happ in front of other starting candidates like Nate Pearson, Ross Stripling, and Tanner Roark.
Happ initially came to Toronto as part of a ten-player trade with the Astros in July 2012, back when Alex Anthopoulos was the Jays’ general manager. After Happ was dealt to the Mariners in the 2014-15 offseason, he then came back to the Jays on a free agent contract in November 2015, spending the better part of three seasons in Toronto before again being dealt, this time to the Yankees prior to the 2018 trade deadline. 745 1/3 of Happ’s 1741 1/3 career innings have been thrown in a Blue Jays uniform, and Happ has a 3.88 ERA, 2.72 K/BB rate, and 8.3 K/9 as a Blue Jay.
Some items from around the AL East…
- Rays VP of baseball development Peter Bendix spoke with MLB.com’s Juan Toribio and other reporters about the team’s 40-man roster maneuverings on Friday, which included Hunter Renfroe being designated for assignment to clear roster space. “We figured that it was best for everybody involved to let [Renfroe] get into the free-agent market at this point rather than waiting until the non-tender deadline and happen later. Not closing the door on anything with him, but just figured it was better to do it now,” Bendix said. The Rays paid the significant price of Tommy Pham and Rookie Of The Year finalist Jake Cronenworth to acquire Renfroe and infield prospects Xavier Edwards and Esteban Quiroz from the Padres last offseason, and Renfroe hit only .156/.252/.393 with eight homers in 139 plate appearances in Tampa. Despite Renfroe’s struggles, Bendix said “I don’t think we would go back and do anything differently….I think we got what we were hoping to get from him and some other guys also stepped up, and we made other moves that added to our outfield logjam in a way that I don’t think we would’ve anticipated a year ago.“
- Luke Voit’s name has been floated as a potential candidate to be dealt, though ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (subscription required) wonders how much value Voit has a trade chip. Clubs might not be willing to pay a premium since so many other power bats are available, and the Yankees might simply want to keep Voit (or, in general, as much depth as possible) as a guard against the multiple injuries that seem to regularly hamper the veteran roster. Voit is projected to earn $3.7MM in the first of four arbitration-eligible seasons as a Super Two player, and he turns 30 in February.
The Angels and Jays need to be in on more impactful starters than Happ.
We need two starters and some other pieces. Most likely I think we get one back end starter and one with more upside.
I think Bauer ends up with the angels and possibly Odorizzi
This is your friendly reminder that Bauer and Callaway know one another from days in Cleveland and don’t much like each other. While it is true that money cures a lot of ills, it also doesn’t change personality disorders.
Bauer will likewise have close to 29 other teams bidding on him, so I doubt the Angels will be his first choice, nor his highest bidder. Considering the other positions are also in need of improving while a budget limit looms, Bauer figures to get more money elsewhere.
Does Bauer like anybody ?
Bauer. Lol
Please no Happ for the Jays. Need to be aiming WAY higher.
Agreed the back part of the rotation is set, and Happ isn’t as good as he was when he was slotted higher in it a couple of years ago. I guess if he’s a replacement for Roark starts I won’t complain though.
Happ’s 2020 #s speak for themselves. Hard to say he isn’t as good…
I can’t trust 50 innings from a 38 year old whose last full season was bad. I’d rank him no better than equal to Roark, probably worse, because Roark had a significantly better 2019 and is much younger.
if its a manner of then of releasing Roark then its not worth it. effectively you’d he paying twice as much for probably only slightly better production. chances are Happ’s ERA rises and Roark’s ERA falls a bit this year anyway.
Like who? The choices are petty limited.
I’d rather have Trevor Williams than Happ. Being less than 200 innings past being an excellent pitcher at 28 is a better bet than being 50 innings past being a terrible pitcher at 38.
What he said
Trevor Williams over Happ? No thank you to either one. Would rather take a flier on Aaron Sanchez over Williams.
so I had no clue where Happ would go so i figured at his age retirement would be a better bet then any specific team. well, of course everyone wants him now so that isnt happening.
How much value does Luke Voit have? Is this a legitimate question? 22 homeruns in 56 games. Also set to earn only 3.25 million in what will be just his first trip through arbitration. The only way I see Brian dealing void is if they resign DJ and you’re able to pull off the trade for Lindor
You are correct! Totally agree!
Voit had a great season and led the league in HR’s.
Typical anti-Yankee bias. As much as many posit the media are always pro-Yankees, it is simply false. Look at the MVP for instance; no way DJ should be 3rd, imho.
You’re right. He should be 6th. Fangraphs has him behind Ramirez, Bieber, Rendon, Abreu, and Trout in WAR.
WAR is a bad stat to use for MVP selection as it’s purpose is to measure talent in a vacuum minus luck. MVP should be chosen based on what actually happened, rather than on a stat that tries to eliminate the element of luck. Just saying.
Lol boom roasted!
Fangraphs is overrated. That’s the reason they don’t play golf, they don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground
Teams like the Pirates, Orioles, Royals etc. are the teams that I expected to show more interest in Happ. Low cost innings eater fits them better than either the Jays or Angels.
Why not just resign walker if we are thinking about signing happ yet again.
If the price is right the Jays should bring back Happ, so long as they also add a TOR starter.
If it was Morton on a one year, a fan of any team would be happy. But if it’s Happ, they’re skeptical. Yet Happ’s 2020 and career are better. I guess your only as good as your last start!
the thing is Morton has been a different pitcher since leaving PIT. decidedly better then Happ since then.
I honestly don’t want either. If the Jays can get a solid #2 somehow, they could then dance at the 1year rental party! (Like Bryant!) I believe then the window would be cracked open. But the front end pitching has to be done first.
if rogers is okay opening up their pocket book then Bryant makes perfect sense. he’s not going to cost a lot in prospects because everyone knows the cubs are desperate to trade his salary. So then if the jays can then go sign 2 of Bauer, Morton and Odorizzi and sign Hand reasonably cheap then their instantly right there with the Yankees and Tampa
My Xmas wish is Darvish. But I’m sure the Jays would be on his 12 team no trade list.
Bauer was very clear he wants to play for a contender this year. I doubt he signs for Toronto, but one never knows.
bold of you to assume the Jays arent a contender Mr. Homer.
Kind of funny considering that the NYY finished all of one game ahead of the BJs last year.
Today, in Mr Bauer’s mind, Toronto is not a contender. So, I suggest that Yankee Clipper’s suggestion that Toronto is not on Bauer’s mind is accurate.
Unless the Yankees view Ford as an everyday player or wish to experiment with Andujar at 1B i don’t know why they would consider trading Voit while he is productive and relatively inexpensive
The whole trade Voit thing has never made sense to me. Unless they’re clearing up a roster spot from a bunch of moves, he has more value to the team by playing than as a trade chip. As much as I like Voit, those type of players just don’t bring back much of a return.
It reminds me of how so many fans are looking to trade Nimmo. You have good player you keep him. Why make things complicated?
DJL if resigned can play 1B
That includes Sanchez who has an all-time low trade value. The Yankees know what they have in him and his projected arb salary isn’t prohibitive for a team with their resources. If Cole doesn’t want to pitch to him, so be it but let the process play out a litle longer. If Sanchez doesn’t rebound, DFA (I trust he won’t past through waivers) or trade him for peanuts.
Voit has value and unfortunately the Yanks can’t deal Stanton. Voit should be the DH and Andujar needs to DH except Stanton will DH. Andujar has little value right now, which then makes Voit the guy to move.
Makes no sense to trade voit… just look at the numbers… and DJ should have won mvp, look at what he meant to Yankees and I know only 60 games but to hit over 360?
Yes, but the yanks have enough right handed power bats that strike out. Instead They could resign DJL, move Gleyber to 2B, trade or sign a SS, and package Voit and another player to acquire a pitcher.
Voit isn’t bringing back a pitcher even if packaged with someone else. If a team trades a pitcher, they are a rebuilding team and therefore have no need of a arb eligible first baseman.
Not a pitcher but i do wonder if Voit and Frazier would be enough to bring back Lindor. We know he’s going to be traded and the offense starved Indians have needs at 1B/OF/DH
Voit & Frazier do not bring back Lindor; not even close! Add Devi Garcia to that package and maybe Cleveland listens but there’s no way they’d move Lindor for Voit & Frazier. Not even close.
Yep I agree unfortunately. Voit is the guy to go. But I’m not dealing him to fit cap space. We would have to get significant value in return. Maybe consider dealing him with a minor league arm to Brewers for Hader who had down year. Or maybe send him to Cubs in a package for Darvish??? Lots to consider for Cash Ninja.
Unless he’s blocking someone in NY he probably has more value to the Yankees than anyone. Great season, but a 30-year old 1B/DH who’s numbers are probably benefiting from being in a stacked lineup wouldn’t get all that much in return, I’d imagine, For that price the NYY will probably get more value out of playing him, even if he’s a depth piece, than they could get by moving him.
From a distance you might think he benefited from a stacked lineup, but the truth is, with Judge and .Stanton missing so much time and Sanchez falling off a cliff, Voit was their biggest bat in regular season.
If the Blue Jays are interested in Happ someone needs their head examined. This cannot be true unless they want to offer minimum salary and he is in the bullpen.
The Jays need a top of the rotation starter, an established 3b not a utility guy, and an elite CFer preferably a leader type. Unless they get these players, they are not likely winning anything and the 2021 season becomes a developmental season and is a time-killer.
Happ needs to retire or play on a non contending team.
It’s so weird every time Happ is mentioned, Yankee fans just troll the heck outta the comments. He’s still a good pitcher, not sure what you guys thought you were getting.
I thought he was fine last year. Just not the pitcher the Yankees thought they were signing. I think Yankee fans, including myself, aren’t used to players complaining publicly about them. Sonny Gray also comes to mind. Any time it happens, the media eviscerates them. Neither was wrong for voicing their own opinions. It’s just things the Yankees don’t tolerate so you know their countdown clock with team has started.
I remember when CC and Messina (and many others) would be their own worst critics when things went south in a game, quite unlike Happ,
Maybe the Jays brass don’t feel confident in their ability to contend in 2021? Contemplating a JA Happ return would make sense; mentor Robbie Ray, Pearson and Kay. Plus Happ liked Toronto.
If the team believes 2021 is not the year to make their move then Happ makes sense.
Yup
The Rays say they got what they were hoping to get from Renfroe. They didn’t expect much, apparently.
First reasonably consistent 1st basemen at that position for the Yankees since the early Bird era and they would consider a trade WTF for. One of the few on the roster who seems to play thru most anything and provides a solid and timely offense.
Also a solid clubhouse, team-first guy.
Voit would get a heck of a haul in trade. i dont see him being even a remote candidate
I would love the Tigers to go after Ozuna, Springer, Peterson, or JBJ.. but.. I have a feeling Hunter Renfroe will be wearing the old English D. Regardless, Daz Cameron could certainly use another year in the farm after these last 2 years.
I don’t get all of this stuff about Luke Voit not being worth anything other than depth. That seems ridiculous. He’s a GOOD player. He’s not just a home run hitter. He’s more versatile than that. Even kinda hits for average… There’s definitely a Yankee bias going on with these assessments.
his defense is a c- (negative in WAR actually), and he strikes outs at least once a game, let alone against better pitching. The yanks have enough of those guys…
if they can get a decent pitcher or SS for him they should. Trade high and address the areas of weakness. the team is way better off with DJ at 1st, Torres (at 2nd), a SS with a glove, and gio plus good pitching, than working around voit.
Voit might be the worst defender at 1B in baseball. Might. However, he can mash.
While acknowledging that most of the world hates the Yankees, there are a couple of reason to downgrade Voit.
1-As others have mentioned, he is a poor fielder.
2-His stellar 2020 was heavily influenced by his home stats.. Combine this with a very high HR/FB, and one could make the case that the 2019 Voit is what you will receive.
3-He is going to be 30. So while he has control left, it might be slightly declining.
4-The NYY are in a box. Everyone is screaming to re-sign LMH, but he has no position, except 1B.
If I were the NYY, I’d see if you could trade Voit, but he is probably more valuable to you than to anyone else. If you can’t trade Voit, I’d let LMH walk, keep Voit at 1B, and sign Didi to play SS.
Please Gawd no on JA Happ…. for anyone… he’s cooked