Cincinnati Reds free agency preview: Starting pitcher J.A. Happ

The Cincinnati Reds are in serious need of starting pitching this offseason. Blog Red Machine is going to check out a few potential free agents who could help. Could J.A. Happ help to solidify the rotation?

Free agency doesn’t start for a few more weeks, but it’s never too early to preview which players the Cincinnati Reds may target this offseason. Obviously, starting pitching is far and away the biggest need for this ballclub going forward.

Over the next several days, Blog Red Machine is going to check in on a few different starters who could help the Reds in 2019. J.A. Happ is a bit long in the tooth, but even at almost 36 years of age, he’s still pitching at a high level.

J.A. Happ is a tall, rangy left-handed starter who could greatly improve the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation next season. Happ went a combined 17-6 this season playing for both the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees.

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Happ has been in the big leagues for a long time. He debuted for the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2007 and enjoyed moderate success with them. During his first three seasons, Happ went 13-5 with a 3.21 ERA.

J.A. Happ has seen his fair share of Major League venues during his 12 seasons in the big leagues. Happ became trade-bait for Philadelphia in 2010 when the Phillies dealt him and two other players to the Houston Astros in exchange for Roy Oswalt. Happ was traded again in 2012, this time to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Following the 2014 season, Happ was dealt from Toronto to the Seattle Mariners. At the 2015 trade deadline, Happ found his third home in less than a year when he was dealt to Pittsburgh. Toronto re-signed Happ during the following offseason and had his best season as a starting pitcher.

In 2016, Happ won 20 games, pitched 195 innings, and had a 3.18 ERA. Happ joined the Yankees at the trade deadline this season and hasn’t lost a game. He’s 7-0 with the Bronx Bombers with a 2.69 ERA through 11 starts.

Happ has a five-pitch repertoire, which includes a 12-6 curveball and a sinker. His sinker is a perfect fit for playing in Cincinnati. It can be unhittable at times and when batters do make contact, it’s unlikely to leave the infield.

The concern with J.A. Happ is his age. Happ will turn 36 this month, and you have to wonder how much tread is left on those tires. However, over the last 3 seasons, Happ has averaged 29 starts and 173 innings pitched per year. The Reds didn’t have a single starter go over 170 innings pitched this season.

Happ is in the final year of 3-year, $36-million deal. It’s hard to envision any team giving Happ more than a 2-year deal this offseason. The Yankees have to be thrilled with what they’ve received from Happ this year, so it’s very plausible that he will re-sign with New York.

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However, a starting lefty is something the Cincinnati Reds desperately need, and Happ would come much cheaper than the likes of Patrick Corbin and Dallas Keuchel. A pitcher like Happ might command somewhere in the range of $13-million to $15-million per year, but if the Reds are committed to improving their starting rotation, they’re going to have to spend some money.