The left-hander could be on the move this offseason.
Just a few days after the Blue Jayspicked up their $6.7 million club option on LHP J.A. Happ, opposing teams have contacted the Toronto about a possible trade for the left-hander, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.
Happ's recently exercised option is the only remaining club option in his contract, meaning he will hit the free agent market following the 2015 season. Happ was penciled in to be Toronto's fifth starter in 2015, but the team has the depth to consider other options. One of those options is Marco Estrada, who was recently acquired from Milwaukee in a trade for Adam Lind. In 2014, Estrada posted a 4.36 ERA in 39 games for the Brewers, including 18 starts.
Another option could be topprospect Daniel Norris, who made his MLB debut in 2014. Norris began the season with A+ Dunedin, before rising through the system all the way to a brief, five-game stint with the Jays. For his 2014 season, Norris posted a 2.53 ERA over 26 games at three different minor league levels.
The trade market for Happ could involve many teams. Although he has never been a dominating starter, he is a classic innings-eater at the back end of a rotation. For the 2014 season, Happ posted a 4.22 ERA over 26 starts. Happ has played in eight big league seasons, pitching for three different teams: Philadelphia (2007-2010), Houston (2010-2012), and Toronto (2012-2014).