Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher J.A. Happ throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
On the final day of the trade deadline, July 31, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired J.A. Happ from the Seattle Mariners in a quiet, under-the-radar trade.
What the Pirates received, however, was an impact lefty arm in their rotation.
In 11 starts with Pittsburgh, Happ went 7-2, pitching to a 1.85 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings pitched.
Clearly, something clicked with Happ in Pittsburgh as he held a 4.64 ERA in 21 starts with the Mariners prior to the trade.
Happ enters this offseason as a free agent, but told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he is interested in coming back to the Pirates.
"It's a team I would definitely consider, absolutely," Happ said. "Whatever happens, happens. I'm happy with where I'm at right now, and we'll see what's down the road."
GM Neal Huntington confirmed the mutual interest.
"There is interest," Huntington said. "It's just a matter of how it all comes together, how it works for him and how it works for us."
This will be Happ's first time through free agency. With a loaded free agent class, it will be interesting if the Pirates get out in front of the market to secure their guy.
(h/t HardballTalk)
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