Blue Jays: Happ finds a home, McKinney comfy at first
TAMPA, FLA.— There were quite a few suitors calling J.A. Happ before the former Blue Jays left-hander re-signed with the New York Yankees in December, at age 36, for the highest salary of his 12-year career.
Happ’s second stab at the free-agent market — three years after landing a three-year, $36-million contract (all dollars U.S.) with Toronto in November 2015 — ended with a two-year, $34-million deal with the American League East powerhouse, which acquired him from the Jays ahead of last July’s trade deadline.
“In a sense in validates a lot of the day-in and day-out type of work, the commitment,” Happ said. “That part feels good. To be wanted and to have the interest that we had was exciting.”
Happ, the Jays’ representative in last year’s all-star game, went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts for the Yankees down the stretch. He struggled in the playoffs, though, torched for five runs in just two innings in Game 1 of the AL division series against the Boston Red Sox.
The Bronx Bombers’ perennial commitment to winning was a major selling point, Happ added.
“I think it’s sort of a responsibility and an acceptance that the expectation is to win,” he said. “There’s that next level of expectation placed on you, so when it doesn’t go that way you’ve got to own up to it even more so, or you’re kind of going to get buried … but it also makes it a lot of fun.”
Spring recap: Teoscar Hernandez’s single was the Jays’ lone hit in a 3-0 loss in the Yankees’ pre-season home opener.
Jays starter Marcus Stroman gave up a pair of solo homers — to Troy Tulowitzki and Kyle Higashioka — with reliever Mark Leiter Jr. dinged for the third run.
First glance: Outfielder Billy McKinney, part of the return from the Yankees for Happ last summer, got a start at first base — a position he played off and on in high school and as a New York prospect.
Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said McKinney, if he makes the opening day roster, might be used to pinch run for regular first baseman Justin Smoak on occasion and stay in the game, and pick up the occasional start when Smoak needs a breather. The 24-year-old McKinney has taken ground balls at first base a few times this spring.
He said he felt comfortable in his four innings in the field, while blocking out some hooting and hollering by former Yankees teammates from the home dugout.
”Versatility’s pretty key in today’s game,” McKinney said. “Obviously it’s hard to play 162, so guys need (a break). I have zero problem (playing first).”
Rumour mill: The Jays remain interested in a number of freeagent relievers, including former Yankees right-hander Adam Warren, according to a report by The Athletic. according to Robert Murray and Emily Waldon of The Athletic. Warren had a combined 3.14 ERA in 47 games with the Yankees and Mariners last year.
Up next: Matt Shoemaker is the Jays’ scheduled starter against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday at Dunedin Stadium.