Last year’s ALDS loss highlighted the Yankees’ need for starting pitching help. Brian Cashman almost immediately addressed that by trading for lefty James Paxton early in the offseason. It was clear, however, that Cashman wasn’t done. He wanted to add two quality starters to the rotation by spring training.
The second starter turned out to not be Patrick Corbin, but instead a returning J.A. Happ. The veteran agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal with an option on a third year if Happ reaches 165 innings or 27 starts in 2020.