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New York Yankees: J.A. Happ goes from trash to treasure

By David Hill

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) J.A. Happ #34 of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins in game one of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 04, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 10-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) J.A. Happ #34 of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins in game one of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 04, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 10-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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All of a sudden, J.A. Happ is important to the New York Yankees chances for this season.

At the start of 2020, J.A. Happ appeared to be an extra piece for the New York Yankees. He was reportedly on the trade block, with the Yankees looking to get out from under his contract. With a strong rotation in place, and the eventual return of Domingo German from suspension, Happ was a luxury that the Yankees did not need.

While Happ would have been an enviable depth piece, his production did not match his contract. Although he posted a respectable 12-9 record in 2019, Happ also posted a 4.91 ERA (and a 5.22 FIP) while allowing 32 homers in 161.1 innings. With $17 million due in 2020, and a vesting option worth another $17 million if he pitches 165 innings or makes 27 starts this season, it was easy to see why the Yankees would want to move on.

It is amazing what a difference a couple of months can make. James Paxton is going to miss a part of the beginning of the season due to back surgery. On Tuesday, it was announced that Luis Severino would miss the entire 2020 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. Suddenly, Happ is far more than an expensive luxury.

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Right now, Happ has risen from being on the Yankees waste pile to becoming a vital piece. Gerrit Cole is still their undisputed ace heading into the season, and Masahiro Tanaka has been a steady pitcher atop the New York rotation. The top two spots, regardless of the injuries that the Yankees have already suffered, are in good shape.

But it is the rest of the rotation that is a question mark. Jordan Montgomery showed promise before his own injury woes, and Deivi Garcia is the Yankees top pitching prospect, but can either be expected to contribute to a pennant winning team at this point? And then there are the likes of Luis Cessa, Mike King, Chad Bettis, and Jonathan Loaisiga. Can the Yankees really pin their playoff hopes on any of that group?

Yes, Happ was shaky in 2019, but he is also a proven veteran starter who came through down the stretch in 2018. And, when Paxton and German eventually return, he would be one of the better fifth starters in the game. His solid track record more than makes up for his price tag, especially as the Yankees look to return to the World Series once more.

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Not too long ago, the New York Yankees were willing to throw J.A. Happ away. Now, he might save their rotation over the first two months of the season.

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