The New York Yankees are actively trying to trade left-hander J.A. Happ this winter, sources told Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Sherman suggests that New York is trying to move Happ in order to make room on the payroll for right-hander Gerrit Cole. The Yankees are expected to aggressively pursue Cole, and it’s looking like the ace will command a contract worth significantly more than $300 million.
New York’s payroll will likely cross the 2020 luxury tax threshold set at $208 million, but the Yankees will face further surtaxes if they exceed it by $20 million. An even greater penalty will be applied if they go $40 million over the threshold.
https://t.co/fLzt3tiuRT #Yankees are shopping Happ as a way to more comfortably fit Cole into luxury tax payroll if they are able to sign Cole.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 10, 2019
As @Joelsherman1 mentioned, hearing Yankees are shopping Happ, in part to clear payroll for Cole.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 10, 2019
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