The Yankees and free agent LHP J.A. Happ have struck a two-year deal with a third year vesting option, SNY's Andy Martino reports.
The deal is reportedly worth $34 million with a $17 million option for 2021 based on innings pitched or games started, per Joel Sherman of The Post.
While signing Happ sures up a solid five-man rotation for the Yankees in 2019, Martino adds that GM Brian Cashman isn't entirely out on the starting pitcher trade market. However, he is more comfortable focusing on the team's other needs with Happ secured.
Martino had reported the two sides were progressing toward a deal earlier on Wednesday. The Phillies had been aggressively pursuing Happ as well, but it was reported that they expected him to sign elsewhere.
Happ had been seeking more than a two-year deal following a solid 2018 season with the Yankees and Blue Jays.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman acquired Happ from Toronto before the trade deadline last season, and the move quickly paid dividends. Happ went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA (4.21 FIP) in 11 regular season starts in pinstripes.
Cashman repeatedly said his offseason priority was to add two top starting pitchers. After landing LHP James Paxton in a trade with the Mariners last month and losing out on Patrick Corbin and Nathan Eovaldi, the Happ deal completes that objective.
Happ and Paxton will join Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia in the Yankees rotation.
Happ, who made his first All-Star team in 2018, finished the season with a 17-6 record and a 3.65 ERA (3.98 FIP) in 177.2 innings with the Blue Jays and Yankees.
The Astros, Angels, Blue Jays, Braves and Brewers were also linked to Happ.