Biographical

Portrait of J.A. Happ

J.A. Happ PYankees

Yankees Player Cards | Yankees Team Audit | Yankees Depth Chart

Career Summary
Years IP W L SV SO ERA
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Birth Date10-19-1982
Height6' 5"
Weight205 lbs
Age36 years, 1 months, 29 days
BatsL
ThrowsL
-0.52014
2.22015
2.22016
2.42017
2.82018
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shown —Click to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR oppTAv PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP TAv WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA- WARP
2007 PHI MLB 1 1 4.0 0 1 0 7 2 5 3 .269 109 15.8 4.5 6.8 11.3 14% .364 .410 2.25 11.92 11.25 124 6.45 133.5 0.0
2008 PHI MLB 8 4 31.7 1 0 0 28 14 26 3 .262 99 8.0 4.0 0.9 7.4 35% .266 .239 1.33 4.11 3.69 116 5.73 122.1 -0.1
2009 PHI MLB 35 23 166.0 12 4 0 149 56 119 20 .261 97 8.1 3.0 1.1 6.5 40% .267 .245 1.23 4.28 2.93 106 4.74 101.6 1.5
2010 HOU 0 13 13 72.0 5 4 0 60 35 61 7 .262 91 7.5 4.4 0.9 7.6 41% .265 .260 1.32 4.17 3.75 107 4.70 106.2 0.5
2010 PHI 0 3 3 15.3 1 0 0 13 12 9 1 .251 91 7.6 7.0 0.6 5.3 37% .250 .276 1.63 5.12 1.76 128 6.29 142.0 -0.2
2011 HOU MLB 28 28 156.3 6 15 0 157 83 134 21 .257 101 9.0 4.8 1.2 7.7 35% .298 .294 1.54 4.65 5.35 118 5.87 136.4 -1.5
2012 HOU 0 18 18 104.3 7 9 0 112 39 98 17 .257 97 9.7 3.4 1.5 8.5 48% .315 .291 1.45 4.52 4.83 96 4.63 106.1 0.6
2012 TOR 0 10 6 40.3 3 2 0 35 17 46 2 .268 105 7.8 3.8 0.4 10.3 38% .317 .253 1.29 2.74 4.69 92 3.70 84.7 0.7
2013 TOR MLB 18 18 92.7 5 7 0 91 45 77 10 .263 102 8.8 4.4 1.0 7.5 38% .288 .273 1.47 4.33 4.56 116 5.41 129.4 -0.5
2014 TOR MLB 30 26 158.0 11 11 0 160 51 133 22 .261 104 9.1 2.9 1.3 7.6 42% .297 .278 1.34 4.29 4.22 108 5.06 124.1 -0.5
2015 PIT 0 11 11 63.3 7 2 0 52 13 69 3 .259 98 7.4 1.8 0.4 9.8 44% .299 .211 1.03 2.21 1.85 83 3.24 75.7 1.4
2015 SEA 0 21 20 108.7 4 6 0 121 32 82 13 .260 96 10.0 2.7 1.1 6.8 43% .319 .276 1.41 4.08 4.64 99 4.46 104.1 0.8
2016 TOR MLB 32 32 195.0 20 4 0 168 60 163 22 .258 107 7.8 2.8 1.0 7.5 44% .268 .226 1.17 3.91 3.18 101 4.37 96.6 2.2
2017 TOR MLB 25 25 145.3 10 11 0 145 46 142 18 .258 106 9.0 2.8 1.1 8.8 48% .302 .250 1.31 3.74 3.53 89 4.07 86.6 2.4
2018 NYA 0 11 11 63.7 7 0 0 51 16 63 10 .259 111 7.2 2.3 1.4 8.9 33% .250 .231 1.05 4.24 2.69 97 4.00 89.4 1.0
2018 TOR 0 20 20 114.0 10 6 0 99 35 130 17 .260 104 7.8 2.8 1.3 10.3 45% .285 .240 1.18 3.88 4.18 95 3.89 86.9 1.9
2010 TOT MLB 16 16 87.3 6 4 0 73 47 70 8 .260 91 7.5 4.8 0.8 7.2 40% .262 .263 1.37 4.33 3.40 111 4.98 112.5 0.3
2012 TOT MLB 28 24 144.7 10 11 0 147 56 144 19 .260 99 9.1 3.5 1.2 9.0 46% .315 .281 1.40 4.02 4.79 95 4.37 100.1 1.3
2015 TOT MLB 32 31 172.0 11 8 0 173 45 151 16 .260 97 9.1 2.4 0.8 7.9 44% .312 .253 1.27 3.39 3.61 94 4.01 93.7 2.2
2018 TOT MLB 31 31 177.7 17 6 0 150 51 193 27 .260 107 7.6 2.6 1.4 9.8 41% .272 .237 1.13 4.01 3.65 96 3.93 87.8 2.8
CareerMLB2842591530.710982014485561357189.2601028.53.31.18.042%.288.2591.314.093.901034.64105.610.2

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shown —Click to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR oppTAv PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP TAv WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA-
2004 BAT A- 11 11 35.7 1 2 0 22 18 37 1 .000 5.5 4.5 0.3 9.3 0% .247 .000 1.12 3.51 2.02 0 0.00 0.0
2005 LWD A 14 12 72.3 4 4 0 57 26 70 3 .259 85 7.1 3.2 0.4 8.7 46% .277 .228 1.15 3.21 2.37 0 0.00 0.0
2005 REA AA 1 1 6.0 1 0 0 3 2 8 0 .228 4.5 3.0 0.0 12.0 54% .231 .000 0.83 1.48 1.50 0 0.00 0.0
2006 CLR A+ 13 13 80.1 3 7 0 63 19 77 9 .258 86 7.1 2.1 1.0 8.7 51% .255 .232 1.02 3.57 2.81 0 0.00 0.0
2006 REA AA 12 12 74.1 6 2 0 58 29 81 2 .258 96 7.0 3.5 0.2 9.8 41% .297 .234 1.17 2.54 2.67 0 0.00 0.0
2006 SWB AAA 1 1 6.0 1 0 0 3 1 4 1 .253 97 4.5 1.5 1.5 6.0 39% .118 .202 0.67 4.91 1.50 0 0.00 0.0
2007 PHI MLB 1 1 4.0 0 1 0 7 2 5 3 .269 109 15.8 4.5 6.8 11.3 14% .364 .410 2.25 11.92 11.25 124 6.45 133.5
2007 OTT AAA 24 24 118.3 4 6 0 118 62 117 12 .263 90 9.0 4.7 0.9 8.9 34% .317 .270 1.52 4.08 5.02 0 0.00 0.0
2008 PHI MLB 8 4 31.7 1 0 0 28 14 26 3 .262 99 8.0 4.0 0.9 7.4 35% .266 .239 1.33 4.11 3.69 116 5.73 122.1
2008 LEH AAA 24 23 135.0 8 7 0 116 48 151 14 .268 88 7.7 3.2 0.9 10.1 44% .308 .247 1.21 3.51 3.60 0 0.00 0.0
2009 PHI MLB 35 23 166.0 12 4 0 149 56 119 20 .261 97 8.1 3.0 1.1 6.5 40% .267 .245 1.23 4.28 2.93 106 4.74 101.6
2010 HOU MLB 13 13 72.0 5 4 0 60 35 61 7 .262 91 7.5 4.4 0.9 7.6 41% .265 .260 1.32 4.17 3.75 107 4.70 106.2
2010 PHI MLB 3 3 15.3 1 0 0 13 12 9 1 .251 91 7.6 7.0 0.6 5.3 37% .250 .276 1.63 5.12 1.76 128 6.29 142.0
2010 CLR A+ 1 1 3.0 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 .256 95 9.0 0.0 0.0 6.0 64% .273 .205 1.00 2.09 6.00 0 0.00 0.0
2010 REA AA 3 3 12.3 1 0 0 18 4 10 3 .246 116 13.2 2.9 2.2 7.3 45% .366 .293 1.79 6.12 8.05 0 0.00 0.0
2010 LEH AAA 5 4 22.3 0 1 0 26 15 22 3 .255 92 10.5 6.1 1.2 8.9 51% .348 .318 1.84 5.08 4.84 0 0.00 0.0
2011 HOU MLB 28 28 156.3 6 15 0 157 83 134 21 .257 101 9.0 4.8 1.2 7.7 35% .298 .294 1.54 4.65 5.35 118 5.87 136.4
2011 OKL AAA 3 3 18.0 1 0 0 11 9 16 0 .259 101 5.5 4.5 0.0 8.0 41% .239 .192 1.11 3.50 1.50 0 0.00 0.0
2012 HOU MLB 18 18 104.3 7 9 0 112 39 98 17 .257 97 9.7 3.4 1.5 8.5 48% .315 .291 1.45 4.52 4.83 96 4.63 106.1
2012 TOR MLB 10 6 40.3 3 2 0 35 17 46 2 .268 105 7.8 3.8 0.4 10.3 38% .317 .253 1.29 2.74 4.69 92 3.70 84.7
2013 TOR MLB 18 18 92.7 5 7 0 91 45 77 10 .263 102 8.8 4.4 1.0 7.5 38% .288 .273 1.47 4.33 4.56 116 5.41 129.4
2013 DUN A+ 1 1 5.0 0 0 0 3 0 7 0 .273 103 5.4 0.0 0.0 12.6 10% .300 .134 0.60 0.44 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2013 BUF AAA 3 3 13.3 0 2 0 17 8 13 2 .254 99 11.5 5.4 1.4 8.8 44% .385 .311 1.88 5.00 6.75 0 0.00 0.0
2013 BLJ Rk 1 1 3.0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 .285 101 12.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 64% .286 .261 1.33 3.45 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2014 TOR MLB 30 26 158.0 11 11 0 160 51 133 22 .261 104 9.1 2.9 1.3 7.6 42% .297 .278 1.34 4.29 4.22 108 5.06 124.1
2014 DUN A+ 1 1 5.0 1 0 0 3 1 5 0 .213 117 5.4 1.8 0.0 9.0 75% .250 .204 0.80 1.98 3.60 65 2.44 53.2
2014 BUF AAA 1 1 4.7 0 0 0 5 2 6 1 .260 98 9.6 3.9 1.9 11.6 33% .364 .274 1.50 4.84 1.93 99 3.47 74.3
2015 PIT MLB 11 11 63.3 7 2 0 52 13 69 3 .259 98 7.4 1.8 0.4 9.8 44% .299 .211 1.03 2.21 1.85 83 3.24 75.7
2015 SEA MLB 21 20 108.7 4 6 0 121 32 82 13 .260 96 10.0 2.7 1.1 6.8 43% .319 .276 1.41 4.08 4.64 99 4.46 104.1
2016 TOR MLB 32 32 195.0 20 4 0 168 60 163 22 .258 107 7.8 2.8 1.0 7.5 44% .268 .226 1.17 3.91 3.18 101 4.37 96.6
2017 TOR MLB 25 25 145.3 10 11 0 145 46 142 18 .258 106 9.0 2.8 1.1 8.8 48% .302 .250 1.31 3.74 3.53 89 4.07 86.6
2017 DUN A+ 1 1 3.0 0 0 0 7 0 3 0 .256 111 21.0 0.0 0.0 9.0 62% .538 .332 2.33 1.30 9.00 89 2.83 60.0
2018 NYA MLB 11 11 63.7 7 0 0 51 16 63 10 .259 111 7.2 2.3 1.4 8.9 33% .250 .231 1.05 4.24 2.69 97 4.00 89.4
2018 TOR MLB 20 20 114.0 10 6 0 99 35 130 17 .260 104 7.8 2.8 1.3 10.3 45% .285 .240 1.18 3.88 4.18 95 3.89 86.9

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr%
2008 541 0.4713 0.4122 0.8341 0.6510 0.1993 0.8735 0.7193 0.1659
2009 2609 0.5029 0.4442 0.8102 0.6128 0.2737 0.8669 0.6817 0.1898
2010 1560 0.4474 0.4263 0.7940 0.6103 0.2773 0.8427 0.7071 0.2060
2011 2959 0.4785 0.4275 0.8055 0.6243 0.2469 0.8450 0.7139 0.1945
2012 2532 0.4893 0.4546 0.7672 0.6255 0.2908 0.8245 0.6489 0.2328
2013 1721 0.5067 0.4486 0.8018 0.6445 0.2473 0.8559 0.6571 0.1982
2014 2707 0.5264 0.4581 0.8258 0.6225 0.2754 0.8782 0.6941 0.1742
2015 2821 0.4757 0.4527 0.7972 0.6528 0.2711 0.8436 0.6958 0.2028
2016 3031 0.4833 0.4635 0.7751 0.6655 0.2746 0.8328 0.6442 0.2249
2017 2486 0.4485 0.4735 0.7774 0.6646 0.3180 0.8313 0.6858 0.2226
2018 3049 0.4565 0.4759 0.7581 0.6875 0.2981 0.8307 0.6174 0.2419
Career260160.48160.45300.79130.64330.27630.84530.67420.2087

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2014-03-26 2014-04-13 15-DL 18 12 - Low Back Inflammation - -
2014-03-04 2014-03-19 Camp 15 0 - Low Back Tightness - -
2013-05-08 2013-08-05 60-DL 89 77 - Head Fracture Batted Ball and Laceration - -
2012-09-04 2012-10-04 60-DL 30 28 Right Foot Surgery Fracture 2012-09-13 -
2011-03-29 2011-03-31 Camp 2 0 Left Abdomen Strain Oblique -
2010-04-16 2010-07-06 15-DL 81 72 Left Forearm Strain Flexor Pronator Mass -
2009-10-08 2009-10-08 DTD 0 0 Left Lower Leg Contusion Batted Ball Off Shin -
2009-09-18 2009-09-18 DTD 0 0 Right Abdomen Soreness Oblique -
2009-09-03 2009-09-18 DTD 15 15 Right Trunk Strain Intercostal -
2007-09-29 2007-09-29 WIN 0 0 Left Elbow Strain -
2007-05-30 2007-06-14 Minors 15 0 Left Elbow Inflammation -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2021 NYA $
2020 NYA $17,000,000
2019 NYA $17,000,000
2018 TOR $13,000,000
2017 TOR $13,000,000
2016 TOR $10,000,000
2015 SEA $6,700,000
2014 TOR $5,200,000
2013 TOR $3,700,000
2012 HOU $2,350,000
2011 HOU $474,000
2010 PHI $470,000
2009 PHI $405,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
9 yrPrevious$42,299,000
2018Current$13,000,000
10 yrPvs + Cur$55,299,000
2 yrFuture$34,000,000
12 yrTotal$89,299,000

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
10 y 47 dRogers Sports Management2 years/$34M (2019-20), 2021 option

Details
  • 2 years/$34M (2019-20), plus 2021 option. Re-signed by NY Yankees as a free agent 12/18. 19:$17M, 20:$17M, 21:$17M vesting option, guaranteed with 27 starts or 165 innings pitched in 2020.
  • 3 years/$36M (2016-18). Re-signed by Toronto as a free agent 11/28/15. 16:$10M, 17:$13M, 18:$13M. Acquired by NY Yankees in trade from Toronto 7/26/18 with $4,612,903 remaining on contract.
  • 1 year/$5.4M (2014), plus 2015 club option. Signed extension with Toronto 3/27/13. 14:$5.2M, 15:$6.7M club option ($0.2M buyout). Toronto exercised 2015 option 10/31/14. Acquired by Seattle in trade from Toronto 12/3/14. Acquired by Pittsburgh in trade from Seattle 7/31/15 with $2,379,781 remaining on contract.
  • 1 year/$3.7M (2013). Re-signed by Toronto 1/18/13 (avoided arbitration).
  • 1 year/$2.35M (2012). Re-signed by Houston 1/17/12 (avoided arbitration). Acquired by Toronto in trade from Houston 7/20/12.
  • 1 year/$0.474M (2011). Re-signed by Houston 2/27/11.
  • 1 year/$0.47M (2010). Re-signed by Philadelphia 2/10. Acquired by Houston in trade from Philadelphia 7/28/10 (Roy Oswalt deal).
  • 1 year/$0.405M (2009). Re-signed by Philadelphia 3/3/09.
  • 1 year (2008). Re-signed by Philadelphia.
  • 1 year (2007). Contract purchased by Philadelphia 6/30/07.
  • Drafted by Philadelphia 2004 (3-92) (Northwestern). $0.42M signing bonus.

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Platoon
SORT_FIELD PLATOON AVG OBP SLG TAv
10 vs L (Multi) .257 .310 .383 .242
11 vs R (Multi) .240 .302 .392 .243
18 Split (Multi) .017 .008 -.009 -.001
19 LgAvg (Multi) -.020 -.022 -.064 -.025
30 vs L (2016) .245 .304 .347 .219
31 vs R (2016) .228 .292 .377 .228
38 Split (2016) .017 .012 -.030 -.009
39 LgAvg (2016) -.022 -.023 -.071 -.028

Definition of multi-year splits

BP Annual Player Comments

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BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with J.A. Happ

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2016-05-18 19:00:00 (link to chat)Currently running a rotation with Arrieta, Chen, Karns, and pray for rain in a deep league (20 w/ 40 man) 5x5. Can you give me a list of 5 so SP trade targets that you see having value over cost ROS? Thanks...
(Jim from North 40)		Guy who won't break the bank: Rick Porcello, Rich Hill, Drew Pomeranz, J.A. Happ, Matt Andriese just to name a few. (George Bissell)
2013-05-10 14:00:00 (link to chat)In the wake of the scary J.A. Happ injury, I'm wondering how much attention today's pitching coaches pay to having pitchers land in a good defensive position. Is there more or less attention given to this issue now than in the past? (Needless to say, I don't mean to suggest by my question that Happ should have or could have defended himself from that screaming line drive.) Thanks.
(Rob from DC)		Coaches spend considerable time on PFP (pitcher fielding practice), yet the mechanical focus is tilted toward generating the best possible stuff, and some of the popular strategies are not conducive to finding a strong defensive position. Players with mechanical efficiency will often finish in position to make a play, but that efficiency is often sacrificed in the name of creating angles and deception. For example, a spine-tilting pitcher who lacks balance will typically finish by falling off the mound to the glove side. (Doug Thorburn)
2011-02-08 14:00:00 (link to chat)Not much ca-- it's the single most popular cheese in the world! On a more serious note, am I crazy to think that J.A. Happ can actually earn his $1 salary in my NL-only 5x5 league?
(clete6 from cheese shop)		For the record, I enjoy all manifestations of the terpsichorean muse. As for Happ -- sure, he should be worth a buck. His walk and strikeout rates don't exactly shout "trust me", but so far he's kept runs off the board anyway, and for a single greenback you can do far, far worse. (Ken Funck)
2010-09-15 14:00:00 (link to chat)I'm convinced that J.A. Happ has the ability to potentially become a number 1 starter. Since joining the Astros he's only had 1 bad start (vrs. the Cardinals). Any merit to my thinking or am I way off base here?
(ryan rakickas from kentucky)		You're off base here. I see no reason why Happ cannot be successful as a middle of the rotation pitcher, or even a low-end #2, but his walks and strikeouts are not impressive, and I find it highly unlikely that he can remain successful on perceived velocity and a deceptive delivery for years to come. Plus, he isn't a 22-year old youngster coming into his own, either. What makes answers to questions like this problematic is that he really hasn't "failed" yet in the majors, so it's a matter of what analysts like me foresee against a year and a half of solid run-prevention marks. I'm rooting for Happ, and hope he can have a great career, but I also think that anyone expecting him to develop into a top of the line lefty is in for disappointment. (Eric Seidman)
2010-03-04 13:00:00 (link to chat)Marc, I'm in an 8-team, NL-only, 5x5 keeper league. I have both Steven Strasburg and J.A. Happ at $8 each. Would you hold onto either? Both?
(GBSimons from Lunch)		$8 for Happ doesn't seem bad. I see him putting up a 4.30 ERA or so this year once everything regresses itself to where it belongs, but hey, maybe he improves his components a bit and deserves a better ERA (just not, you know, a sub-3 one). As for Strasburg, he's starting in the minors, but you may as well keep him for $8 so you don't have to overpay for him next year at auction. I like the prices more than the players for 2010, if that makes any sense. (Marc Normandin)
2009-11-19 13:00:00 (link to chat)Hello Joe. What does a high and low percentage of runners left on base indicate for a pitcher?
(ashitaka from long beach, ca)		My understanding of strand rate is that it doesn't reflect a particular skill, but is rather a number, like BABIP or HR/FB, that tends to stabilize over time. So a one-year spike or trough in that number--I think J.A. Happ had a very low one this year--is likely to regress towards the mean, dragging an ERA with it. (Joe Sheehan)
2009-09-29 13:00:00 (link to chat)Garrett Jones would easily have 30+ home runs if he had come up with McCutchen. Are either viable ROY candidates in the NL?
(WilliamWallace from Pittsburgh)		Jones leads NL rookies in VORP, curiously enough, with McCutchen right behind him. As good as Jones has been, I view him as a journeyman having an unsustainable season, and I wonder if the Writers will see it the same way. I think Chris Coghlan also has to be in the conversation, as well as J.A. Happ and Tommy Hanson. (Steven Goldman)
2009-04-13 14:00:00 (link to chat)Following up on your point on the O's, couldn't the same be said of the Phillies and their decision to have Chan Ho Park in their rotation?
(mattymatty from Philly, PA)		I like that move actually. Park did a nice job of generating groundballs last year, making him a better fit for Citizens than he might otherwise be. With J.A. Happ they have the depth to make a switch to moderate both pitchers' workloads, and we know that Park has the versatility to work out of the bullpen.

The Phils' real problem is the condition of Cole Hamels' elbow. If it's not in great shape, they're screwed.

I'll take just a few more questions. (Jay Jaffe)


BP Roundtables

DateRoundtable NameComment
2009-10-15 17:00:002009 NLCS Game One (Phillies/Dodgers)What is the rationale behind J.A. Happ having become "Everyday" J.A. Happ or "Double-Duty" J.A. Happ or "Iron Man" J.A. Happ in the postseason? Too many off-days allow us to revert to 1915 usage patterns? (Steven Goldman)
 

PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC