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Yankees Trade Rumors: Blue Jays Working to Finish J.A. Happ Deal
July 26, 2018
The New York Yankees are reportedly on the verge of acquiring Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ.
Steve Phillips of MLB Network reported the news. Jon Heyman of FanCred reported there is no deal in place at this time.
Happ, 35, is 10-6 with a 4.18 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. The veteran lefty has struck out 130 batters in 114 innings.
The Blue Jays are currently sitting in fourth place in the AL East at 46-55. They are well out of the division race and are seen as potential sellers as the deadline approaches. Happ, who made his first All-Star team this season, is a free agent this winter and is a natural trade target.
"I think generally it's a good thing," Happ told reporters at the All-Star break. "I mean, better to be wanted than not, certainly. I think for me, there's some anxiety that comes with that. I think it will all take care of itself. So I'm doing do my best to just kind of focus on the day to day and every five days, go out there and do what I can do."
The Yankees are in desperate need of starting pitching help. They've been almost solely reliant on Luis Severino and an aging CC Sabathia to fortify the rotation. Sonny Gray and Domingo German continue to get handed the ball every fifth day despite having ERAs over 5.00.
Happ would provide a veteran presence for the stretch run and is in the midst of his best career season. That said, his past performance doesn't necessarily indicate him being the lockdown October starter the Yankees need to make a real World Series push.
