What J.A. Happ knew played a big part in the veteran lefty returning to the Yankees after becoming a free agent. What he didn’t would simply be nice if it happened.
Happ was a teammate of James Paxton in Seattle, and the Yankees acquired the lefty starter on Nov. 19. Happ only knows Manny Machado from facing the supremely talented free-agent infielder, who is being courted by the Yankees.
“I knew that [the trade for Paxton] was always there and that was the first move of the offseason, and it was a strong, smart move,” said Happ, who signed a two-year deal worth $34 million with a vesting option for a third year that could push the contract to $51 million.