J.A. Happ

Will the New York Yankees pull up Deivi Garcia to help pitching struggles?

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New York Yankees, Deivi Garcia

The Future Look of the New York Yankees’ Rotation

As the second half of the season is underway, it’s apparent that the Yankees need a few pitchers to solidify their rotation. It’s becoming evident that both J.A. Happ and James Paxton simply aren’t producing the way they should be. Masahiro Tanaka has also gone through a rough patch since the pitching in the all-star game earlier this month, giving up a whopping twelve runs on July 25th at Fenway.

With the trade deadline quickly approaching, it’s obvious that adding a pitcher is at the top of their priority list but there’s also another option if the pitching continues the downhill slide: Deivi Garcia. 

Diehard Yankee fans who follow the progression of top minor league prospects may have recognized his name before the season started but many first discovered him when he showcased his abilities in the MLB Futures Game in Cleveland. Garcia had a quick 1-2-3 inning, using his 96 mph fastball to punch out Atlanta Braves top prospect Christian Pache. 

Even with the struggles the Yanks have had with pitching, there’s no reason to panic. They have lots of options, especially with Luis Severino returning to the staff in the near future. Calling up Garcia could be the Yankees missing piece to the pitching puzzle. If the Yankees get a starter via a trade and call up Garcia, a lot still needs to happen for the Yanks to have a World Series caliber rotation. 

Fans have different opinions as to who’s at fault for the rotation’s lack of consistency but we can all agree on this; baseball is a very difficult game and sometimes the ball does not bounce the way we want it to. None of the pitchers (except D. German) have pitched to their full potential and that’s the frustrating part for many of us.

What needs reiterated time and time again throughout the season is that baseball is a contagious game. Even if Deivi Garcia is promoted to the big league club, it will not solve all of the Yankees’ problems. There will still be four pitchers in the rotation that need to produce and it only takes one bounce-back start to get that ball rolling.

The uncertainty of the staff’s ability is frustrating but if this same rotation has quality outings in the playoffs, none of us will even remember the struggles in late July.

Can the New York Yankees Succeed Without Signing a Starting Pitcher?

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New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka

Sports fans always hear the term “defense wins championships” and that’s ultimately true, especially in baseball, where scoring is pretty scarce compared to basketball. The 2019 New York Yankees have been one of the more exciting teams in recent memory with their defense leading the way.

Both Gio Urshela and DJ LeMahieu have been quiet additions that quickly made an impact while younger players like Gleyber Torres has performed like a veteran. An area of concern for some is the pitching staff, who has been slightly inconsistent, especially in the starting rotation. With all that being said–

Here’s why the New York Yankees don’t need a starting pitcher:

Even with the starting rotation the way it is, the Yankees have only lost 31 games! To put this in perspective, the 1961 World Series champion Yankees had 29 losses at the All-Star break. This was with a lineup that included six All-Stars and a pitching rotation that included both Luis Arroyo and Hall of Famer Whitey Ford, who also played in that year’s midsummer classic.

The 2019 team is doing it with guys that will probably never reach the status of Mickey Mantle; they’re doing it with grit and they’re doing it with a smile on their faces. 

The Yankees will also have top-notch hurlers coming back from injury during the latter end of the summer. Both Dellin Betances and Luis Severino will be back and ready to contribute at some point during the second half, just when we need them. Until then, we’ll have young guys like David Hale, Stephen Tarpley, and Nester Cortes Jr. to step up to the challenge and hold the fort down. 

While the average age on the team is 27, there are some seasoned veterans on this staff that have experienced the bright lights of the postseason before. C.C. Sabathia is without a doubt one of the fiercest competitors on this team and as a 2009 ALCS MVP, he knows exactly what it takes to win those big games in October.

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Masahiro Tanaka is another pitcher that has had postseason experience in pinstripes. He may not have the postseason accolades like C.C. but has still posted a 1.50 ERA during the playoffs. 

Like many Yankees fans are, I am quick to doubt a player’s ability to turn around a mediocre season but that’s exactly what fans should not do for both J.A. Happ and James Paxton who have had sub-par seasons so far. This pair of lefties have the entire second-half to prove to the league why they belong in the Bronx and it’s likely to happen because success is very contagious.

Once the Bombers get healthy and firing on all cylinders, Happ and Paxton will join in on the fun and leave their struggles in the dust. 

 The Yankees do not need to acquire another pitcher to win another title, but they would be foolish not to. With Marcus Stroman, Trevor Bauer, Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard all on the trade block, why wouldn’t the Yankees pursue them? They all have postseason experience and we wouldn’t necessarily have to give up anyone on the big-league roster for them.

While Yankees prospect Deivi Garcia was very impressive in the MLB Futures Game and in Double-A this season, he would be the perfect fit for a team looking to get a good return. The Yankees already have all the tools they need to complete the end-goal, but what’s one more weapon to add to our arsenal? 

 

New York Yankees: Can J.A. Happ turn things around after a rough start?

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New York Yankees, J.A. Happ

J.A. Happ was traded to the New York Yankees last year at the trade deadline. He was evidently one of the key targets of General Manager Brian Cashman. Happ overall played very well during the remainder of last season with the Yanks. He pitched to the tone of a 2.69 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and a 7-0 record in 11 games started. Happ proved to be the reliable arm the Yankees were lacking and even proved to have success against the Red Sox. It became apparent he was a big asset, so going into the offseason he was made a priority.

Of course, Cashman flirted with other starters like Patrick Corbin, but ultimately he went with what seemed like the safe play and resigned Happ to a $34 million dollar, three-year deal. For a veteran that provides good help to the rotation, it seemed like a very fair deal. Happ had a role essentially carved out for him for this season as the reliable veteran arm who can keep the Yankees in the game.

Things have not gone to plan, though. Through his first 10 starts, he’s been below average. Happ has a 5.09  ERA and a 4-3 record. 29% of the Yankees losses have occurred when Happ is on the mound this season. So what’s wrong? Well, it could be a mechanical issue or a mental issue but one thing is for sure, he can’t keep this up. With the way, the roster stands right now the Yankees can’t afford to sit Happ down for a start or even send him down to tinker with his mechanics.

The fact is, it’s still early in the season and although there are concerns with Happ’s play so far he’s a veteran who’s slumped in the past. I don’t doubt that he can get out of his slump and be a crucial part of the teams likely postseason run. Hopefully, he can get back to his old form and prove me right.

A solid outing over the weekend for the Yankees:

Luckily, Happ turned his inadequacy off and turned on his quality. Against the Kansas City Royals in the first game of a double-header, Happ was stellar despite giving up a three-run homer that tied the game. He struck out an impressive 10 batters over six innings, showing us his former self.

Hopefully, he can continue progressing as the season goes on, as the Yankees need all of the fire-power they can get in the starting pitching rotation.

Series Preview: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins

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New York Yankees, Luke Voit

The New York Yankees will head home to the Bronx following a lengthy west coast trip,  finishing 6-3 on the week. They will take on a strong Minnesota Twins team, who are currently 18-10 and are leading the AL Central. Having dropped the last two games, the Bronx Bombers look for another series win.

Game One: James Paxton vs. Kyle Gibson

James Paxton is coming off a three-game winning streak, with his last outing being against the San Francisco Giants. Paxton went 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs and fanned eight. The strikeout count has been high for the Yankees’ left-hander, as he tied the club’s record of 12 strikeouts in consecutive outings. Paxton currently has 51 strikeouts on the season. The Twins are throwing RHP Kyle Gibson, credited with a 4.88 ERA on the year. After starting with a 7.36 ERA, Gibson has settled down; only allowing three earned runs in his past two outings.

Game Two: J.A. Happ and Jake Odorizzi

J.A. Happ‘s start to the season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. A recurring theme has been apparent in each of his outings, where he has allowed runs in the early innings of the game and then settling in through the later innings. Yankees’ offense has helped Happ, as they been able to come back from run deficits. Regardless of Happ’s early struggles, his most recent outing against the San Francisco Giants was dominate. Going the distance (7.0 IP), Happ allowed five hits and no earned runs.  Twins’ crafty RHP, Jake Odorizzi, is coming off a strong outing against the Houston Astros, where he outdueled Astros’ ace, Justin Verlander. Odorizzi, commanding his slider and cutter, was able to shut down the Astros offense in only 86 pitches.

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Game Three: Domingo German and Michael Pineda

Game three will be one of the most anticipated games this series. Domingo German, who has stepped up in Luis Severino‘s absence due to injury, has been everything the Yankees needed. Taking the ace role, German has a 5-1 record with a 2.56 ERA. Ex-Yankee, Michael Pineda will be taking the mound for the Twins. Yankee fans remember Pineda’s dominance in the Bronx, as he was considered the ace of the pitching staff during the 2014 season. This season, Pineda has struggled. Coming off a two-game losing streak, Pineda is credited with a 6.21 ERA in 29.0 innings pitched.

Players to watch

Yankees’ hitter Luke Voit poises a threat at the plate, as he is coming off a hot week on the west coast. In the last seven days, Voit batted .435 with seven RBIs and two home runs. Twins’ shortstop Eddie Rosario looks to do damage at the plate, as he leads the team in home runs (11).

Will The New York Yankees Attempt To Reunite With J.A. Happ?

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New York Yankees, J.A. Happ

The New York Yankees struggled in 2018 with their pitching rotation; lacking consistency and efficiency when going into their starting depth. Moving forward, they will look to bolster the unit exponentially through free agency, as well as the trade market. The Yanks have already added James Paxton from the Seattle Mariners for top prospect Justus Sheffield.

As Mr. Corbin has gone to Washington, GM Brian Cashman will need to look elsewhere to help bolster the rotation. Perhaps it’s time for a reunion with a recent Yankee to HAPPen.

J.A. Happ: LHP

2018 Stats (TOR & NYY):

17-6, 3.65 ERA, 31 Starts, 193 SO, 177.2 IP, 1.131 WHIP, 3.4 WAR

Okay, corny name puns aside, a reunion with J.A. Happ could be a possibility for the bombers. The veteran southpaw was traded for at the non-waiver trade deadline after being more or less the ace of a Toronto Blue Jays team that was dealing with injuries to Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez, along with Marco Estrada struggling for the second straight year. His efforts with Toronto saw him earn his first career All-Star nomination.

Despite starting his career in pinstripes on the disabled list with Hand foot and mouth disease, he would go 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts for the Yankees. Unfortunately for the bombers, Happ imploded in Game 1 of the ALDS against Boston, giving up five Earned Runs in only two innings on the way to a 3-1 series win for the eventual World Series Champions.

Similarly to C.C. Sabathia, Happ would provide veteran leadership, both on the mound and in the clubhouse. In an era where teams go to their bullpens earlier in the game than ever before, Happ would be a vital innings eater for whoever signs him. Since 2014, he has pitched less than 150 innings only once (145.1 IP in 2017). He finished 2018 with a career-high 193 strikeouts and a 9.8 K/9 ratio.

There is the question of how long a team would want to commit to someone like Happ, who turned 36 in October. So far, he’s shown that he can pitch in New York and doesn’t seem ready to submit to Father Time just yet.

Contract Prediction: 2 years, $20-$25 million, option for a third year

New York Yankees Acquire Starting Pitcher Just Before Trade Deadline

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The New York Yankees have officially acquired LHP J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for OF Billy McKinney and INF Brandon Drury. Fans may feel uneasy about parting ways with Drury – a 25 year old utility player who was slashing a .294/.403/.447 this season in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre(AAA) – but a veteran lefty such as Happ fills a much bigger void in the team than Drury does.

For one thing, the Yankees aren’t exactly lacking infield depth. Besides their normal starters Greg Bird, Gleyber Torres, Didi Gregorius, and Miguel Andujar, the Yankees still have Neil Walker, Tyler Wade, Tyler Austin and Ronald Torreyes within their organization. In the 18 games where Brandon Drury was called up to play this season, he only recorded a .176/.263/.275. It was evident that there wouldn’t be a starting position for Drury with the unexpected success of Miguel Andujar, who currently posts a .294/.328/.500. The same goes for Billy McKinney – between Clint Frazier and Yankees’ #2 prospect Estevan Florial, there was no spot for McKinney in the foreseeable future.

How has Happ performed as of late and how will he influence the New York Yankees?

Despite J.A. Happ’s lousy starts as of late, he has been one of the better starting pitchers available on the market. As of now, he sits with a 4.18 ERA. That number can be deceiving though – this season, he has a 9.82 ERA against the Yankees. When you remove his statistics against the Yankees this season, his ERA is 3.80 against all other teams. In just his last 7 starts, he posted a 6.03 ERA – before those 7 games, his ERA was sitting at an 3.48. A change of scenery can also prove to be advantageous for this veteran southpaw. This season, he recorded a 5.22 ERA at home in the Rogers Centre versus a 2.60 ERA on the road.

Perhaps his most exciting stats are against the Red Sox. In 2 starts this season against Boston with 10.2 innings pitched, he posts a 0.87 ERA with a 0.938 WHIP and 13.5 K/9. Over his whole career? A 2.98 ERA in 19 games with 105.2 innings pitched. In 9 games and 46.1 innings pitched in Fenway Park, he averages a 2.91 ERA. The Yankees are scheduled to play the Red Sox 10 more times this season, 7 of them in Fenway. This lefty who dominates in Boston could be the missing piece the Yankees needed in the rotation.

Although he is 35-years old, he is having one of the best years of his career. For the first time in his 12-year major league career, he was selected to the All-Star Game. Prior to the mid-season break, he was the only pitcher in the MLB this season to have 4 starts with 8-plus strikeouts and zero walks. From his career averages, his GB% is up, his BB% and FIP are down, and his K% and SwStr% are at a career high.

Regardless of J.A. Happ not being one of the most appealing starting pitcher names on the market, he fits the Yankees’ need without the hefty cost. Cashman has upgraded both the starting rotation and the bullpen without trading away a single top 10 prospect. Fans can be confident in the future of the organization, as well as the Yankees’ chance in the postseason this year.