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Newsday | Anthony Reiber: J.A. Happ is officially a Yankee again. The two sides agreed to terms last week, and they were made official this week. All told, Happ got two-years, $34 million, and a $17 million vesting option for a third year. If Happ throws 165 innings or makes 27 starts in 2020, then the option will vest. Parker Bridwell was waived in the corresponding roster move.
New York Post | Dan Martin: The Yankees are apparently checking in on free agent reliever Aaron Loup. The 30-year-old lefty specialist spent last season with the Phillies and Blue Jays. There’s probably not much to this story, but hey, it was a slow news day. Also, raise your hand if you thought Aaron Loup was Aaron Laffey. Just me? Cool.
Sports Illustrated | AP: As it turns out, the Yankees ended up giving CC Sabathia his $500,000 performance bonus for this season. Sabathia famously fell short of the 155 inning threshold after he was ejected from his last start. He finished the season with 153 innings pitched.
FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: Andy Pettitte is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time ever this year, but he’s a definite long shot to make it to the Hall. Jaffe’s a self-proclaimed fan of Pettitte, but even he cannot find a strong argument for the lefty’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame. Oh well. We’ll always have Pettitte’s five World Series championships to hang our collective hats on.
Bonus Story
The Athletic | Ken Rosenthal (subs req’d): Miguel Andujar has been hard at work on his defense this offseason, but that apparently isn’t stopping the Yankees from shopping him on the trade market. Rosenthal reports, “A number of rival executives are convinced the Yankees want to trade Andújar.” A lot of rumors here, but Rosenthal floats out a three-team trade scenario in which the Yankees send Andujar to the Padres and get J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins while the Padres send prospects to Miami.