LAS VEGAS _ The Yankees are closing in on a deal for one of their top free agent targets.
After watching two potential fits, Patrick Corbin and Nathan Eovaldi, agree to contracts elsewhere last week, the Bombers were nearing an agreement as of Wednesday morning with veteran left-hander J.A. Happ. A source confirmed a deal was close, but not yet done.
Happ's representatives had been insistent on a three-year deal _ with whatever team landed him _ while the Yankees were just as insistent on two. One insider indicated a somewhat easy-to-reach vesting option for a third year might be a compromise both sides could live with. But that wasn't immediately known.
The Phillies were also said to be very much in on Happ, who pitched the first four years of his big-league career in Philadelphia.
Retaining the 36-year-old, terrific down the stretch for the Yankees last season after they acquired him from the Blue Jays before the July 31 trade deadline, was among Brian Cashman's goals once free agency officially began after the World Series as the general manager desired to add two rotation pieces this winter. He's technically added three as CC Sabathia was re-signed to a one-year deal in early November and James Paxton was brought in via trade with the Mariners later that month.
Happ went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts for the Yankees. The one blip came in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Red Sox when he took the loss.
Should the Yankees complete the deal with the pitcher that would give them a rotation of Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, Happ and Sabathia. Cashman pursuing one more starter still can't be ruled out.
Cashman's wish list for the winter also includes a bullpen pitcher or two and infield depth of some kind because shortstop Didi Gregorius will miss at least the first two months of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
