Atkins says Jays deeper after trading lefty Happ for MLB-ready players

Toronto general manager Ross Atkins says competitive baseball teams are increasingly less willing to part with top prospects when they tool up for a playoff run. So while the Blue Jays didn’t get a blue-chipper when they traded veteran left-hander J.A. Happ to the New York Yankees, Atkins was pleased to get a pair of major league-ready players instead.

The Blue Jays continued their rebuilding process by sending Happ to the Yankees for infielder Brandon Drury and minor league outfielder Bill McKinney.

Toronto also shipped reliever Seunghwan Oh to Colorado for minor league infielder Chad Spanberger, outfielder Forrest Wall and a player to be named or cash.

Drury creates a potential snarl in the Jays’ infield, where Yangervis Solarte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Aledmys Diaz and Devon Travis are already fighting for playing time. But Atkins said positional depth is necessary for any playoff-calibre team.

“This game will forever be about depth,” Atkins said. “You can never have enough of it.”

Happ, who turns 36 in October, is 10-6 with a 4.18 ERA in 20 starts and was a first-time all-star. He joins a rotation that includes Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Sonny Gray.

Toronto also claimed right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake on waivers from the L.A. Angels.