Yankees decline J.A. Happ's option

October 30th, 2020

The Yankees did not exercise left-hander 's $17 million club option for 2021, the team announced on Friday.

This makes Happ a free agent after a season in which he posted a 3.47 ERA with 42 strikeouts over 49 1/3 innings spanning nine starts. Happ’s option would have vested if he had made 10 starts or thrown 60 innings this past season.

The owner of a career 3.98 ERA in 14 seasons, Happ joined the Yankees in July 2018, when the Blue Jays traded him to New York for Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney.

After becoming a free agent the following offseason, Happ returned to the Yankees on a two-year, $34 million contract with an option for 2021.