This offseason, I will be diving into the notable moves made and their impact to their individual teams and potential fantasy baseball implications.
JA Happ resigned with the Yankees for 2 years and $34M (plus a 3rd year vesting option for $17M). Again, I was very close but no cigar. I had J.A. Happ going to Toronto for 3 years and $48M in my Presidente’s 2018-2019 MLB Offseason Free Agent Predictions.
A proven lefty with a great track record in the AL East and a shorter term contract… can’t ask for much more in this market. I am never a fan of giving a P more than 4 years because the of risk. Granted a team like the Yankees can (and have) take that risk but it has never really worked out. As far as the “Mid-tier” goes this year, I’d take Charlie Morton and JA Happ as the best value + performance of any free agent pitcher on a multi-year deal.
Happ’s stats from 2016-2018 (TOR (77 GS) and NYY (11 GS)):
47-21, 3.44 ERA, 518 IP, 498 K/157 BB, 3.91 FIP
Even better, here are his stats vs the AL East in 2018:
vs BOS – 4 GS, 1.99 ERA, 1-1
vs TB – 3 GS, 1.53 ERA, 1-1
vs TOR – 1 GS, 3.38 ERA, 1-0
vs BAL – 5 GS, 1.55 ERA, 3-0
Although the dollars are a little high for a SP entering his age 36 season, it is a good signing in my opinion. The Yankees didn’t have to make the 5-6 year-long mistake that they are accustomed to make. Happ has the kind of stuff that will age well and health permitting, will be a solid #3/4 for them in 2019.
Grade – B+
More Instant Analysis – Trades/ Transactions
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