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J.A. Happ Traded to Cardinals from Twins for Evan Sisk, John Gant
July 30, 2021
J.A. Happ's brief stint with the Minnesota Twins has ended with a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
The Cardinals confirmed the deal, noting the Twins will receive pitchers Evan Sisk and John Gant for the former All-Star. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com first reported the trade and return.
The Twins signed Happ to a one-year contract in January after the left-hander spent the previous two-plus years with the New York Yankees. It seemed like a good low-risk investment for a team in need of pitching depth. He was coming off a solid 2020 season with a 3.47 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in nine starts.
Happ got off to a fantastic start in Minnesota with a 1.96 ERA through four outings in April. Things quickly turned for him when the calendar flipped to May, though. For the season, he's gone 5-6 with a 6.77 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 98.1 innings.
The Twins have been one of the biggest disappointments in Major League Baseball, as their 43-60 record ranks last in the American League Central.
With Happ only signed for this year, it made sense for the Twins to move on from the 38-year-old. In return, they get Gant, who has a 3.42 ERA in 14 starts, along with Sisk, who was in Double-A Springfield before the trade.
The Cardinals can continue to use Happ as a starter, especially against opponents with heavy left-handed lineups. He could also be shifted to the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever in certain situations.
