MLB rumors: Boston Red Sox interested in Yankees starting pitcher JA Happ

JA Happ might leave the Yankees and join the Red Sox.

Very rarely does one defect from the New York Yankees to the Boston Red Sox, but veteran southpaw JA Happ might be on the verge of such a move. With Luis Severino returning to full health and Deivi Garcia ready to become a full-time starter in 2021, Happ could be on his way out of the Bronx, and the hated rivals up north might offer him plenty in order to trade in his pinstripes.

Jon Morosi is reporting that Alex Cora and the Red Sox are showing legit interest in Happ, with his 2.57 ERA at Fenway park serving as the main draw.

JA Happ is a reliable back of the rotation starter, but he will be 38 next season

Happ has been in the big leagues for 14 seasons, and his career marks of a 3.98 ERA and 104 ERA+ show that he’s been a perfectly reliable, middle of the road starter. However, with the Yankees likely eyeing some big game in order to beef up their rotation, Happ might find himself squeezed out of the Bronx.

The Boston rotation was going to be a weakness going into the 2020 season given the Chris Sale injury and trade of David Price, but Ron Roenicke was forced to use relief pitchers and minor leaguers making their big league debuts for large chunks of the season. While Happ by himself will not be enough to stabilize the rotation or get the Red Sox back into the postseason, it is certainly a step in the right direction given his success against the AL East.

Happ might’ve gotten on the collective nerves of the Yankees fanbase due to his propensity for shrinking in big moments, but Boston can’t think about contending with a bunch of warm bodies in the rotation, and Happ would help eat up innings for a team in need of some veteran leadership on that pitching staff.