The New York Yankees made their second significant move ahead of the 2018 trade deadline yesterday as they acquired veteran starting pitcher J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for infielder Brandon Drury and outfield prospect Billy McKinney.
The crafty lefty should be very useful for the Yankees as they chase the Boston Red Sox (who lead the A.L East by 4.5 games) as he has a 2.98 career ERA in 105.2 innings against them and owns a 2.91 ERA at Fenway Park.
Just two days after adding the Zach Britton, arguably the biggest relief name in the market to improve an already lethal bullpen, Yankees GM Brian Cashman strikes again to strengthen their rotation with the addition of a pitcher that was considered one of the most coveted starters at this year’s trade deadline.
Happ joins a rotation that that includes ace Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, veteran CC Sabathia and Sonny Gray.
With these two moves, the Yankees seek to be in prime position for a run at the pennant.
Happ, who this season made his first All-Star team, is just one of five pitchers to earn at least 10 wins in each of the last five seasons.
In 2018 the 35-year-old lefty has so far gone 10-6 with a 4.81 ERA in 20 starts for Toronto prior to the trade, boasting a career-best 10.26 strikeouts per nine innings pitched ratio.
Just two years ago with Toronto Happ finished with 20 wins and 3.1 ERA to earn a sixth-place finish in Cy Young voting. Happ was a key part of the Blue Jays run to the A.L.C.S in 2016 and went 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his two playoff starts that year.
Happ, who will turn 36 in October, has amassed a 102-82 career record with a 3.95 career ERA in 12 years with the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners Pittsburgh Pirates, and Toronto.
