JA Happ has been the topic of the majority of Yankees trade rumors, other than Miguel Andujar, of course. For JA Happ the previous season and a half with the Yankees have certainly been an interesting ride, there is still value there with him and his abilities — however, offloading the $17,000,000 he is due this upcoming season is going to be tricky. The Yankees, while already over the $208 million luxury tax threshold, are wanting to attempt to cut costs at any lengths necessary, especially as there are potential contract years coming up for Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez in the near future.
The 2019 JA Happ that was seen on the mound was nothing close to his former self. When acquired by the Yankees in the summer of 2018, he was absolutely lights out — as he pitched to the tune of a 2.69 ERA across 63.1 IP with the Yankees (and although W/L Record means nothing, he did go 7-0). 2019, was the complete opposite, as he finished the season with an ERA of 4.91, and saw his K/9 drastically fall from the season prior (9.78 in 2018, to 7.81 in 2019)
However, the biggest discrepancy for Happ is his FIP. Despite his incredible run with NYY in 2018, the FIP to his 2.69 ERA was 4.21, and last year his 4.91 ERA was paired with a 5.22 FIP. If a word were to describe Happ’s 2019 performance, especially after signing the two-year extension, it would have to be “Bleak”. With that being said, Cashman is looking to ship him off, as the Yankees look to slot in Jordan Montgomery — or even Jonathan Loaisiga — in at the fifth spot of the rotation. Look for Happ to likely be traded prior to Spring, as he still has some value and is an innings-eater if anything (at least 160.0 IP the last two years).
Possible suitors for Happ:
Los Angeles Dodgers — would be interesting since they’ve always been viewed as the ‘West Coast Yankees’, but NYY would likely need to include a prospect to ship off Happ’s contract.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — the other Los Angeles team, or excuse me Anaheim, also are still actively searching for another starting pitcher to improve their lacking rotation — despite the signing of Julio Teheran.
Domingo German Suspension Details
Domingo German has been officially suspended a total of 81 games, due to the domestic abuse allegations against him. For more information on the suspension itself, check out ESM’s own, Alexander Wilson’s piece on him.
However, I’d like to mainly discuss the effect this has on both German and the Yankees moving forward, briefly. I do personally have an issue with how the MLB handles all these dispute cases, as they just like to slap a suspension on and wash their hands with it. If German truly does have these personality issues and is viewed as a threat to others — and ultimately, in turn, himself — why not try to work with the Yankees and get him professional help, or counseling? Instead, the MLB decides to suspend him for a very lengthy suspension, while Addison Russell only got a 40 game suspension for his incident back in 2018. My problem is that the MLB chooses to take their stance by simply taking away these players’ incomes and essentially firing them — temporarily (yes, I know that’s how suspensions work) — and then by moving on from it. How that helps anyone, is beyond me, however, I do not condone domestic violence, nor what German did, in any way.
Ultimately, he made the decision to act out and hurt his image and in turn negatively reflect the New York Yankees as well. With that being said, I truly hope he can right his wrongs and get the help he may need. The Yankees without German have lost a big weapon in their rotation, and when he comes back in likely June or July, I believe, that will be a massive boost to hopefully, an already solid season by that point.
Jacoby Ellsbury and the MLBPA vs the Yankees
Now it’s no secret that everyone that bleeds pinstripes wants Jacoby Ellsbury to just be done playing baseball altogether, but unfortunately for Yankees fans — and baseball fans — he and the MLBPA are in deep with the Yankees.
The Yankees claim that Ellsbury had received unauthorized treatment in Atlanta, during his injury rehabilitation this last season. Jacoby denies such allegations and says that the treatment was for an injury non-baseball related, thus seemingly finding the loophole within the contract he signed. The Yankees then withheld the $26,000,000 he was owed and said that since he violated the terms of their agreement, that that money is no longer guaranteed. Thus, the MLBPA — in tandem with Ellsbury — have filed a grievance case against the Yankees, as of two weeks ago.
It’ll be an interesting story to follow over the next few weeks — if not months, at the rate its progressing — and if the Yankees are found to be in the right, that will be a massive amount of money coming off the books this coming year. However, if the Yankees are just trying to pinch pennies at every corner possible, and in turn are exploiting and making Ellsbury out to be worse than he is, that is where the situation gets sticky.
Keep an eye out for more information in the coming weeks.