When the Yankees first acquired J.A. Happ, most thought it was just a rental. The way he’s pitched for New York down the stretch should change all that.
Brian Cashman made the move to trade for J.A. Happ because he wanted to stabilize the back end of the Yankees rotation. Instead, the former Blue Jays hurler has pitched more like an ace than a fifth starter. That’s why the organization should prioritize bringing the veteran left-hander back for another couple of seasons in the Bronx.
Happ will hit free agency after this season ends, but fortunately for Yankees fans, he’s definitely interested in extending his time with the club. He recently told reporters that he would “for sure” be interested in coming back assuming the team shows interest in re-signing him.
The only downside to bring Happ back is his age. He’ll turn 36 years old in October, which makes giving him a long-term deal a big risk for any team that wants to sign him. Ideally, the Yankees would be able to bring him back on a two- or three-year contract. The latter would almost certainly lead to overpaying Happ in the final year of his deal, but that’s a risk worth taking for a team with so many questions about their starting rotation.
Betting on anyone other than Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka to be in the rotation next season would be a poor choice. Cashman and company would like to see Sonny Gray rediscover his form and join the duo, but that seems unlikely at this point. The team will explore bringing CC Sabathia back, but he’s clearly pondering retirement. Lance Lynn’s recent dip in performance makes him unlikely to return to the Bronx unless it’s on a bargain deal.
That means the Yankees may have as many as three spots in the starting rotation to fill for the 2019 season. There are young arms in the system with the talent to compete for a spot, but a team aiming for a World Series title isn’t going to bet on that many unproven options at once. Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German and Justus Sheffield will all get a chance to make their mark during Spring Training, but the organization would be foolish to bet on all three guys to be above average Major League starters next year.
That’s why bringing Happ back makes a ton of sense. His veteran savvy would provide the Yankees with a great bridge to some of the team’s younger starters. He also has the polish to continue to pitch at an above average level for the next couple of seasons. Cashman and company should make a quick move to bring him back to the team once he hits free agency. Letting him get away would be a serious mistake.