Toronto Blue Jays' J.A. Happ pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Boston, Thursday, July 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

News

Yankees Acquire LHP Happ from Blue Jays

Max Wildstein

Published

July 26, 2018

The New York Yankees have acquired J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand has reported that infielder Brandon Drury and outfielder Billy McKinney are going to the Blue Jays in the deal. Jon Morosi of MLB.com first reported the two sides had an agreement “in place” involving Happ.

The 35-year-old lefty is 10-6 on the season with a 4.18 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and a 101 ERA+ in 114 innings for Toronto. Across 20 starts, Happ recorded 130 strikeouts and a 10.3 K/9, along with just 35 walks and a 2.8 BB/9.

Happ is two years removed from a sixth-place finish in the American League Cy Young Award voting, after going 20-4 with a 3.18 ERA during the 2016 campaign.

Happ has had much success against the Boston Red Sox, while a member of the American League East, since 2015. In 10 starts against the Red Sox, he has a 1.78 ERA, along with a .202 opponent batting average and a 45/18 K/BB ratio.

The 25-year-old Drury did not have a spot on the Yankees’ major-league roster due to the emergence of Miguel Andujar over at third base. The Yankees had acquired Drury during spring training in a three-team trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks where they sent Taylor Widener to Arizona and Nick Solak to the Tampa Bay Rays.

After being placed on the disabled list with migraines a few games into the season, Drury was later optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when it was apparent there was not a spot on the roster for him. In 55 games this season with the Railriders, Drury has slashed .294/.403/.447 with five home runs, 13 doubles, and 30 RBIs.

In just 18 games for the big league club this season, Drury has struggled to a .176/.263/.275 slash line over 57 plate appearances with one home run, two doubles and seven RBIs. He’s controlled through the 2021 season.

The 23-year-old McKinney has now been a part in more deadline deals (3) than games he’s played in in the big leagues (2). The outfielder, who came in at No. 20 on the Pinstriped Prospects Mid-Season Top 100 Prospects List, went 1-for-4 in a brief two-game stint for the Yankees in what ended in him hurting his shoulder in Toronto on a play at the wall.

In 54 games this season for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, McKinney has posted a slash line .230/.294/.502 with 13 home runs, eight doubles, five triples and 32 RBIs.