If you can't beat 'em, sign 'em?
That might be part of the Boston Red Sox' philosophy as they aim to improve their mediocre rotation for 2021.
The Red Sox are "showing interest" in free-agent left-hander J.A. Happ, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday while noting the considerable success Happ has had at Fenway Park in his career.
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Happ is a veteran of the American League East, having spent the last five seasons of his 14-year major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays (2016 to mid-2018) and New York Yankees (mid-2018 to 2020). He boasts a 7-2 record and 1.08 WHIP in addition to that 2.57 ERA over 12 career appearances at Fenway.
Happ turned 38 in October but has continued to be effective in his late 30s, earning an All-Star nod in 2018 and posting a 3.47 ERA over nine starts for New York in 2020 with a 1.05 WHIP, his lowest in a single season.
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The veteran left-hander likely would be Boston's No. 3 starter -- behind Eduardo Rodriguez and Nathan Eovaldi; ahead of Tanner Houck and Nick Pivetta -- but the Red Sox have plenty of competition for his services. Morosi has reported the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays all have interest in signing Happ.
The Red Sox signed a pair of pitchers to minor league contracts earlier this month in Kevin McCarthy and Emmanuel De Jesus, but they still need a legitimate rotation piece. Might Happ fill that void?
