Yankees Happ-y about deal for starting pitcher

To the Yankees, lefty J. A. Happ checked off a lot of boxes — familiar with the AL East, comfortable in the postseason and, perhapsmost importantly, successful against the Red Sox.

Hours after ace reliever Zach Britton donned pinstripes for the first time, the Yankees acquired the starting pitcher they sought. They got Happ fromToronto on Thursday for infielder Brandon Drury and minor leaguer Billy McKinney.

“We definitely satisfied some needs,” said GM Brian Cashman, whose team is 4½ games behind AL East-leading Boston.

Happ is 10- 6 with a 4.18 ERA in 20 starts and was a first-time All- Star. He is 7- 4 with a 2.98 ERA in 19 games against the Red Sox. He is 14-8 with a 3.98 ERA in 32 starts over the last three years against AL East opponents and also has pitched 10 postseason games. CUBS TO OBTAIN HAMELS » The Cubs agreed to a deal that will give them struggling lefthanded starter Cole Hamels from the Rangers, pending physicals. Hamels is 1-3 with a 10.23 ERA in his last 10 starts. BREWERS ADD CLOSER SORIA » The Brewers acquired twotime All- Star closer Joakim Soria from the White Sox for pitching prospects Kodi Medeiros and Wilber Perez. Over his last 25 outings, Soria has a 0.74 ERA and held opponents to a .161 batting average with 32 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings. ROCKIES ACQUIRE OH » The Rockies added right- hander reliever Seunghwan Oh from Toronto for minor league prospects. Oh was 4-3 with a 2.68 ERA in 48 appearances for the Blue Jays this season. INJURIES » Nationals righthanded starter Stephen Strasburg was placed on the 10-day DL list with a cervical nerve impingement. ... Yankees slugger Aaron Judge fractured his rightwristwhen hewas hit by a fastball and is expected tomiss three weeks.