New York Yankees: The worst thing about J.A. Happ

For New York Yankees fans the worst thing about J.A. Happ is… he’s not Patrick Corbin.

When the New York Yankees brought J.A. Happ into the mix at the 2018 trade deadline, they were looking for someone who could neutralize a dynamic Boston Red Sox lineup. In four starts against the Sox that season, Happ posted a 1.99 ERA with a 1.015 WHIP, striking out 29 batters in 22.2 IP.

For the moment, the move seemed like a wise one, especially considering how much Yankees pitching struggled against the Sox that season. That all fell apart, however, when in his only start against Boston in the 2018 ALDS, Happ was yanked after failing to make an out in the 3rd inning, allowing 4 H, 1 BB, and 5 ER.

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The Yanks were eliminated by the Red Sox in four games that postseason and entered the offseason with a pressing need for starting pitching.

Of the bunch that were available that offseason, Patrick Corbin appeared to be the best option. To that point, however, many organizations had little faith in the 28-year-old who in six seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks posted a 56-54 record with a 3.91 ERA and 1.285 WHIP.

With his most recent season being the best, though, some thought Corbin might have turned a corner and figured something out. In 2018, before becoming an unrestricted free agent, Corbin finished 5th in the NL Cy Young voting after finishing the year with an 11-7 record, a 3.15 ERA, and 246 SO over 200 IP.

Understanding that the weakest part of their team was starting pitching, the Yankees made a viable offer to Mr. Corbin, offering him a contract worth $100M over 5-years ($20M AAV). Corbin declined the deal, however, and accepted a 6-year, $140M ($23.3M) with the Washington Nationals instead.

Without much of an option, the New York Yankees opted to remain with their left-handed pitcher with the knack for beating the Red Sox in the regular season. They ended up signing the 36-year-old J.A. Happ to a 2-year, $34M ($17M AAV) instead.

That’s a difference of just over $6M per season.

Since then, in 2019, Happ posted the 4th worst FIP (5.22) and 12th worst ERA (4.91), and in franchise history. Conversely, Corbin solidified a Nats rotation that included Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg by posting a 3.25 ERA last season and striking out 238 batters in 202 IP.

What’s more, Corbin would demonstrate great versatility for the Nationals in the postseason by appearing as both a starter and a reliever. He even earned the win in game 7 of the World Series against the Houston Astros, tossing 3-innings of 2-hit baseball, striking out 3 batters, and allowing 0 ER.

I hate to sound like a TV salesman, but for just $6M more preseason, the New York Yankees could have a rotation that features Gerrit Cole, Patrick Corbin, and James Paxton as their 1-2-3. Pair that with their dynamic lineup, and you might be looking at another dynasty in the making.