Yankees get lefty Happ in trade with Blue Jays
The New York Yankees acquired left-hander J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays for utility player Brandon Drury and minor league outfielder Billy Mckinney.
Happ, 35, is 10-6 with a 4.18 ERA over 20 starts this season. The Yankees are responsible for the remaining $4,543,011 of his $13 million salary this season, and he becomes a free agent after the year.
Happ is 7-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 19 career starts against Boston. He is 14-8 with a 3.98 ERA in 32 starts over the past three years against American League East opponents and has pitched 10 postseason games with Toronto and Philadelphia.
Drury, 25, opened this season as New York’s starting third baseman but has spent most of the year in the minor leagues, hitting .292 in 61 games across two levels. Mckinney, 23, a first-round draft pick by Oakland in 2013, is hitting .230 with 13 home runs and 35 RBIS over 62 games at three minor league levels this season.
Cubs: Chicago acquired lefthander Cole Hamels from Texas for several low-level minor league prospects, pending physicals for the players involed, ESPN reported.
Hamels, 34, a four-time All-star, is 5-9 with a 4.72 ERA this season, though he has a 2.93 ERA on the road. A 14-year major league veteran with a 3.43 career ERA, he has made six starts at Wrigley Field, where he is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA.
In other Cubs news, third baseman Kris Bryant (inflamed left shoulder) was placed on the 10-day disabled list, and infielder David Bote was recalled from Triple-a Iowa.
Brewers: Milwaukee acquired two-time All-star closer Joakim Soria and cash from the Chicago White Sox for two pitching prospects: left-hander Kodi Medeiros and right-hander Wilber Perez.
Soria, 34, has a 2.56 ERA, 49 strikeouts and 16 saves over 38 2/3 innings this season. Medeiros, 22, the 12th pick of the 2014 draft, has a 3.14 ERA in 20 appearances this season for Double-a Biloxi. Perez, 20, has a 2.01 ERA in eight starts in the Dominican Summer League.
Rockies: Colorado acquired right-handed reliever Seunghwan Oh from Toronto for two 22-yearold minor leaguers — first baseman Chad Spanberger and outfielder Forrest Wall — and a player to be named.
Oh, 36, had a 2.68 ERA in 48 appearances for the Blue Jays this season. Spanberger has batted .307 with 41 home runs and 126 RBIS through his first 152 pro games between rookie and Low-a ball. Wall has batted .260 with nine home runs and 28 steals in 93 games this season between High A and Double A.
Astros: Houston acquired catcher Martin Maldonado from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league left-hander Patrick Sandoval and $250,000 in international bonus pool money.
Maldonado, 31, who won a Gold Glove last season, is batting .223 with 32 RBIS in 78 games this season. Sandoval, 21, has a 2.56 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 88 innings across two Class-a levels this season.
Braves: Atlanta acquired left-handed reliever Jonny Venters, 33, who made his major league debut with the Braves and was an All-star with them in 2011, from Tampa Bay for international signing bonus pool allocation.
Also, All-star second baseman Ozzie Albies (sore right hamstring) returned to Atlanta’s lineup after missing the previous four games.
Giants: First baseman Brandon Belt (hyperextended left knee) was placed on the 10day disabled list, third baseman Evan Longoria (broken left hand) was activated from the DL, right-hander Chris Stratton was recalled from Sacramento, and left-hander Ty Blach and infielder Kelby Tomlinson were optioned to the Triple-a club.
Nationals: Right-hander Stephen Strasburg (pinched nerve in neck) was placed on the 10day disabled list, third baseman Anthony Rendon was placed on paternity leave, left-hander Tommy Milone’s contract was purchased from Syracuse, and corner infielder Mark Reynolds was recalled from the Triple-a club.
Reds: Jesse Winker (right shoulder subluxation) was placed on the 10-day disabled list, and fellow outfielder Mason Williams’ contract was purchased from Triple-a Louisville. Winker, 24, who batted .299 over 89 games this season, will undergo seasonending surgery.
Pirates: Francisco Cervelli was activated from the concussion disabled list, and fellow catcher Jacob Stallings was optioned to Triple-a Indianapolis.
Blue Jays: Right-handed reliever Oliver Drake was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.