Happ adjusts seamlessly with Jays on deck
A text message from a friend let Marco Estrada know the Blue Jays were close to trading J.A. Happ.
“Next thing I know, a few minutes later I was talking to (Happ) and he’s telling me, ‘It’s not finalized, but it looks like it might be happening,’ ” Estrada recalled of the deal that sent Happ to New York Yankees on July 26. “And then a few minutes later he said, ‘It’s done. It’s a done deal, man.’ ”
Baseball trade rumours are endless in late July and speculation about Happ’s departure had swirled for weeks, but Estrada — who makes a point of trying to avoiding the chatter — says he didn’t clue in until that morning that one of his closest friends could be leaving town.
The news “kind of sucked,” said Estrada, who was dealt to Toronto by Milwaukee for Adam Lind after the 2014 season. “(Happ) was traded on a day off, so we didn’t really get to see him and say your goodbyes that way. But I guess when you’re on the other end it makes it a little easier, because it’s hard to say ’bye to some of these guys.”
This weekend’s series at Yankee Stadium, where Happ is scheduled to start against the Jays on Sunday afternoon, offered a chance to reconnect and maybe squeeze in a meal together.
In their time together as the elder statesmen of the Jays rotation, Estrada and Happ, both 35, shared their knowledge regularly — with each other and teammates — before and during games.
“You definitely get along with a lot of people and you make friends, so it’s hard to say ’bye sometimes,” Estrada said, “but it is a business and we all know it’s part of it.”
Changing clubs is nothing new to Happ, the six-foot-five southpaw who has been dealt five times over the course of a 12year career, with the Jays often involved. Drafted by the Phillies in 2004, he made his big-league debut in 2007 and pitched his first full season in 2009. In December of that year, he was re- portedly in the mix when the Jays discussed trading ace Roy Halladay to Philadelphia. In the end, the Halladay deal went through without Happ, who was instead traded to the Houston Astros before the 2010 deadline. He became a Jay for the first time two years later, part of a 10-player blockbuster with Houston, then was swapped to Seattle for outfielder Michael Saunders in December, 2014. The Mariners flipped him to the Pirates for a prospect at the 2015 deadline, and he went 7-2 with a 1.85 ERA the rest of the way.
Happ returned to Toronto as a free agent in December 2015 — for $36 million (U.S.) over three years after that strong finish — and might again when his contract’s up after this season.
He’s excelling with the Yankees — 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA despite missing about a week with hand, foot and mouth disease — and on Sunday the Jays will counter with Ryan Borucki, the 24-year-old rookie left-hander who says he looked up to Happ during their short time as teammates. That didn’t surprise Estrada.
“He just went about his business the right way,” Estrada said. “I would always let younger guys (know), ‘This is a guy to look up to.’ He just does everything right, so he’s missed here for sure. Not only what he does on the field, but off.”
Away from the game, Estrada said their differences made them click.
“He’s a bit of a quiet guy and I’m a little louder, I guess,” Estrada said. “I know a lot of people don’t know that, because all they see is me on the mound and I don’t really show anything. I think that contrast just kind of blended well. … Easy guy to get along with. Didn’t say much, but when he did he was one of those guys that people would definitely listen to.”
Happ could fly under the radar in Toronto at times — despite a flashy 20-win season just two years ago — but not in the Big Apple, where he was photographed taking the subway home after his second start as a Yankee. The image spread quickly on social media and was brought to Estrada’s attention by assistant coach Scott Weberg. Estrada got a laugh out of it, but saw where Happ was coming from.
“I thought it was hilarious, but poor guy, he’s just trying to get home,” Estrada said. “I know it’s a pain in the butt to drive in the city. It’s such a hassle and it’s so much easier just to take a (subway), but we’re looked at a little bit different, I guess.”
Watching Happ pitch for the opposition will also be a little bit different, he said: “It will be weird seeing him in pinstripes.”