J.A. Happ is shipped to the Yankees as New York finds the starter it needs

Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ, one of the only starters on the market to be putting up decent numbers and be available for a reasonable return, has been traded to the New York Yankees according to Jon Heyman, Jon Morosi, Joel Sherman and others. The Yankees have been looking for a starter for weeks and now that they have Happ and reliever Zach Britton in pinstripes they are fully ready to push for the AL East lead.

That all of the recent pitching acquisitions in the division — Nathan Eovaldi to the Red Sox, as well as the Yankees’ two transactions — have been trades between division trades proves how little hope anyone who isn’t Boston or New York has to make the postseason. It’s a lost division for the lower trio so the players are all going to two teams and it’s going to make the second half of the season very interesting.

Happ has a 4.18 ERA in 114 innings this season, with a 101 ERA+, a 1.175 WHIP, a 3.84 FIP and a 10.3 SO/9 rate. Th final three stats are either on par with or better than what Happ has put up over the last few seasons so being on the Jays hasn’t helped him much, as can be expected. He’s had a rough July but his season numbers on the whole still being what they are is promising and he should be able to rebound easily enough (especially with New York’s offense behind him.)

With Sonny Gray struggling and the Red Sox 5.5 games up in the division as it stands, this was a move the Yankees were going to have to make. Happ was the most obvious target and they didn’t have to give up the whole farm for him. Although they did give up a few solid pieces for what will be a few-months long rental — Happ is at the end of a 3-year, $36 million contract in Toronto.

Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney are heading to Toronto to the deal, both names who have been mentioned as options in other deals. Drury, who hit .176/.263/.275 in 18 games this season with the major league club has been blocked for the most part by Miguel Andujar who has had a great rookie year for New York. McKinney, meanwhile, is an outfielder and first baseman hitting 230/.294/.502 in Scranton and has been noted for his swing mechanics and power.

Both Drury and McKinney are good gets for Toronto, but two players who have had bad injury luck this year and have done only okay in Triple-A Scranton and who are being blocked by more talented players who are making their mark in pinstripes. A good trade for both sides.