Blue Jays sign J.A. Happ 3-years $36M

[BTS]

I really think the regime change happened at the perfect time. Shapiro inherits a monster offense, and will try and keep them competitive with thrifty additions like Chavez/Estrada/Happ, but he doesn't feel compelled to break the bank and make an irresponsible move for an ace. I like how this offseason has gone so far.

[Stangstag]

This feels a lot like the signing you make when you strike out on Kuma/Lackey/Samardzija.

 

Yeah I agree... But I still think we need one more mid-rotation guy

[The Cats Ass]

Happ for 12 million a year? I'd rather add a little bit more and get some that's actually good.

[glory]

So the rotation looks complete.

 

Stroman

Happ

Estrada

Dickey

Chavez

 

I like how they were able to address it. Two short-term signings, no picks lost, and a reliever traded. Shapiro's influence.

 

Yep. I get the feeling the Jays want to develop their own pitching (ala Cleveland), but since no one is really close from the minors, they are going for cheap fixes to add depth and bide some time. It's going to piss a lot of fans off, though.

[4thOFan]

Happ and Chavez? As a Red Sox fan I'm extremely happy.

[GD]

Predictions?

 

160 IP / 3.75-3.8 FIP

[The Cats Ass]

Kazmir/iwakuma/lackey/samarzija cant cost that much more

[THANOS]

Happ for 12 million a year? I'd rather add a little bit more and get some that's actually good.

 

This is my issue with it. Is JA Happ worth $12M AAV?

[Dr. Dinger]

Yuck, not a big fan of the AAV here. Probably looking at 3-5 WAR for our $36M, which is no one's definition of good value.

[CJ-Freeway]

lol our rotation is weak. Happ may have been good with PIT but I doubt he'll be this good for 3 years back-to-back.

[glory]

Kazmir/iwakuma/lackey/samarzija cant cost that much more

 

You still have to convince them to sign with the Jays. Some times no amount of money can do that.

[CJ-Freeway]

This is my issue with it. Is JA Happ worth $12M AAV?

 

f*** no he isn't. I'm already having flashbacks of his 2014 implosions.

[Dr. Dinger]

Everyone go look up how well Happ pitched for Pittsburgh before you judge anything. Pittsburgh fixes guys. He was incredible. Maybe he figured some stuff out.

 

So we want to bank on a 33 year old career league average arm suddenly turning into a legit SP2 based on a 1/2 season sample? That's kinda hard to swallow.

[glory]

See, this is what the Jays should have done in 2013 instead of the Marlins/Mets trades. Just sign guys as free agents or trade for under the radar starters while biding time for prospects. Unfortunately, there's no Syndergaard/Stroman types in the minors right now to bide time for, but maybe in a couple of years there will be.

[BigCecil]

The market for SP who had a small sample size of front end of the rotation type success. Jesus. Price may get $225mm from the BoSox. The irony of this signing with him coming back at the cost is almost too much.

[flafson]

Gonna be hard to convince me he's better than the Happ of 2014 which wasn't horrible but was very meh...

[ComeTogether]

Not good enough to win AL east again.

[GD]

So we want to bank on a 33 year old career league average arm suddenly turning into a legit SP2 based on a 1/2 season sample? That's kinda hard to swallow.

 

He's projected for 2 WAR. If he can put up around that over the course of the contract, of course it's a good signing.

[gbill2004]

Rotoworld thinks we have a good rotation:

 

The 33-year-old southpaw, helped by the tutelage of pitching coach Ray Searage, posted a 1.85 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 69/13 K/BB ratio over 63 1/3 innings down the stretch after a mid-season trade to the Pirates. Happ returns to Toronto where he previously pitched from 2012-2014. He adds another quality arm to the back of what is becoming a deep and talented starting rotation.

[Daniel Labude]

New president is awesome...top 10 pick here we come lol

 

 

Seriously though, this is a really dumb move unless someone else is on the move.

[flafson]

New president is awesome...top 10 pick here we come lol

 

 

Seriously though, this is a really dumb move unless someone else is on the move.

 

They are banking on a genie in the bottle, same with Chavez.

[saskjayfan]

happ blows...

[nmrch]

So we want to bank on a 33 year old career league average arm suddenly turning into a legit SP2 based on a 1/2 season sample? That's kinda hard to swallow.

 

since when do we get number two starters for 3 years 36 million?

[glory]

Wow didn't realize he was 33 already. I thought he was 30 or something.

 

I don't mind the signing honestly. Underwhelming definitely, but doesn't cost a pick, and the AAV is probably market value for league average starters.

[AdamGreenwood]

Everyone go look up how well Happ pitched for Pittsburgh before you judge anything. Pittsburgh fixes guys. He was incredible. Maybe he figured some stuff out.

 

Yeah, when Vance Worley was in Pittsburgh, he looked great.

And then he left Pittsburgh and....hmmm......

 

 

Anyways guys, relax. No we don't have an Avery-Glavine-Smoltz-Maddux rotation.

We have one good pitcher, and four average guys.

 

But with the offense this team has, if we can limit the other teams to 4 or 5 runs, we should be winning most games.

Having an ace pitch a shutout is just overkill.

[BlueJayWay]

I don't mind bringing Happ back. Seems a little steep on the money/term side.

[Rusty_Savage]

happ blows...

 

You blow

[Deadpool]

I don't hate this, but I really don't love it either.

[xposbrad]

I still don't understand. What was the purpose of this if they traded for Chavez and signed Estrada. They are just adding quantity now, not quality. 3/36 for Happ? There's no way anyone can like that. The bottom of the rotation is solid, that's about it lol ..It seems like a huge waste tying up 12m into that slot in the rotation. They needed a #2 not another #4..

 

JA friggin happ @ 36m hahaha, that's way too funny. I miss AA

[THANOS]

Rotoworld thinks we have a good rotation:

 

The 33-year-old southpaw, helped by the tutelage of pitching coach Ray Searage, posted a 1.85 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 69/13 K/BB ratio over 63 1/3 innings down the stretch after a mid-season trade to the Pirates. Happ returns to Toronto where he previously pitched from 2012-2014. He adds another quality arm to the back of what is becoming a deep and talented starting rotation.

 

That's excellent, hopefully some of that coaching sticks with him going forward.