While the Toronto Blue Jays traded J.A. Happ over the summer, neither side is ruling out a possible reunion.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins addressed the possibility of re-signing the veteran at his end of season press conference on Tuesday, Happ, currently pitching for the New York Yankees, is set to hit free agency this winter.
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“Yeah, we’ll see. I think he really enjoyed his time here and I think he values this organization and the people in it," Atkins said. "The support that a lot of different people in this organization have given him – and that is not just on the baseball side. But on the family side, the city, the fans, how much he enjoys being here should have some impact on his decision."
Happ, 35, was traded to New York ahead of the trade deadline in exchange for outfielder Billy McKinney and infielder Brandon Drury. Before the trade, Happ went 10-6 with a 4.18 ERA in 20 starts for the Blue Jays and made his first All-Star team.
A special message from J.A. Happ. pic.twitter.com/rB56wwD1Z3
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 28, 2018
Since the trade, Happ has been an anchor in the Yankees' rotation, going 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts.
“I’m happy for J.A. Happ, I’m really with what’s happened with him," Atkins said. "It’s really been fun to pull for [him]. He is off the charts in the example he sets for our players, everything ---lead by example, that’s him, man. He’s had an incredible impact on our young players."
Ahead of his first start against the team in late August, Happ spoke glowingly of his stint in Toronto and did not rule out exploring a reunion this offseason.
“I’m not sure, you never know how the offseason will play out,” Happ told Sporting News in August. “The one thing I’ll say is I loved my time up there and I appreciate the organization, and especially the fans. Who knows? But a lot of respect will always be with them.”
Happ's career in Toronto spans parts of six seasons and two stints. He was originally acquired by the Blue Jays as part of a 10-player trade with the Houston Astros in July 2012. The Blue Jays traded Happ to the Seattle Mariners ahead of the 2015 season but re-signed him to a three-year, $36 million pact the following winter.
In his second tour of duty, Happ evolved into one of the American League's top pitchers, going 47-21 with a sub-four ERA in parts of three seasons.
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The Blue Jays enter the offseason in search of a manager and figuring out which young players will see significant playing time next season. After a postseason chase with the Yankees, it's unclear if Happ would be interested in joining a rebuilding team but the Blue Jays look back at Happ fondly.
“It’s not something we will forget," Atkins said of Happ's tenure in Toronto.