In nearly all of my previous columns regarding pitching, I mentioned that a top starter was the Yankees main priority. The Yankees realize this and want to deal for a top starter but apparently none are on the trading block at this time. For that key reason, the trade for J.A. Happ was not lacking a plan. It was a Plan B ..but it was still a plan, and a good plan.
The Yankees traded Brandon Drury and Billy McKinny (#20 prospect nyy) to the Toronto Blue Jays for the 35 year old left-hander. Happ is 10-6 with a 4.18 ERA this year, and pitched better than those numbers until July where he has struggled of late (0-3, 7.41ERA). Happ’s past three seasons with Toronto (signed a 3-year deal in 2016) have been strong. In 2016 Happ went 20-4, 3.18 ERA, and finished 6th in Cy Young voting. Last year he posted a solid 3.53 ERA. Just as importantly, J.A. has been even better against the Red Sox since joining the Blue Jays, going 4-1, with a 1.84 ERA in 9 starts vs. Boston.
Another favorable stat is that Happ does not run out of gas late in the season. He’s 20-12 with a 3.12 ERA in 46 career starts in September and October. J.A. is a three-pitch pitcher, who features a Fastball, Slider and Change-up. He is particularly tough on lefty batters who he has held to a .188 batting average this season.
J.A. is not an ace, and this was a Plan B. In this case “B” stands for better, because Happ’s addition makes the Yankee starting rotation .. better. The Yankees did not get the top of the rotation starter (yet?), they should absolutely not give up on Plan A (A as in another ace) but this was a good move and there was nothing Happ.hazard about it.
As always,
Go NYY !!
