MLB trade rumors: Why Yankees’ price for Blue Jays’ J.A. Happ keeps going up

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is July 31, 2018 (7/31/18). Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will be shopping for starting pitching before the deadline. One of the best starters on the market is Toronto Blue Jays southpaw J.A. Happ.

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The Yankees go into play on Tuesday with the best record in baseball (51-25) and a half-game game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

But general manager Brian Cashman won’t rest on his laurels. He knows that if the Yankees want to get past the Houston Astros and return to the World Series, the club needs to upgrade its pitching staff. Specifically the starting pitching, with injuries to Masahiro Tanaka and Jordan Montgomery.

One of the best starters on the market is J.A. Happ, the southpaw for the Toronto Blue Jays.

And right now, it seems like every time Happ takes the mound, his price tag keeps going up.

On Monday, he improved to 10-3 this season with a 3.62 ERA, outdueling Astros ace Justin Verlander in a 6-3 win in Houston.

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Happ went six innings, giving up three runs while striking out four. He will finish the month of June with a 3-0 record in five starts, with a 3.16 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .183 against him this month.

The Yankees won’t be the only club kicking the tires on Happ before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reports the Seattle Mariners are also interested in the 35-year-old lefty.

The question for the Yankees will become how much is too much for Happ? Cashman has already said he has no interest in trading rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres and that he would prefer not to flip Clint Frazier for a starter before the trade deadline.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.