The New York Yankees are on the verge of bringing back a key member of the pitching staff that helped lead them to the playoffs last season.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that J.A. Happ has agreed to sign a three-year deal with the Yankees. He later walked back the report, noting that the two sides are close but have not finalized anything.
#Yankees in agreement with free-agent left-hander J.A. Happ, pending a physical, sources tell The Athletic. Believed to be three-year deal.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2018
Walking this back. Indications are #Yankees are close on Happ, but no agreement in place. https://t.co/FvR5bwUVDw
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2018
While a recent report indicated the Philadelphia Phillies were interested in bringing Happ back, it’s no surprise he is expected to remain in New York. The Yankees have been looking to solidify their starting rotation even after acquiring James Paxton in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, and they already missed out on Patrick Corbin and Nathan Eovaldi.
Most importantly, the Yankees already know Happ can pitch effectively in the AL East. The 36-year-old was one of the better pitchers in the AL with the Toronto Blue Jays before being traded to New York, where he posted a 7-0 record and 2.69 ERA in 11 starts.
