Happ announced last week in an appearance on "The Heart Strong Podcast" with Jessica Lindberg that he has elected to retire from professional baseball.
Happ is set to turn 40 in October and hadn't been linked to any teams upon becoming a free agent over the winter, so his decision to retire isn't an unexpected one. The crafty southpaw will bring an end to a 15-year career in the majors that included stops with the Phillies, Astros, Blue Jays, Pirates, Mariners, Yankees, Twins and Cardinals. He earned a World Series ring in 2008 with Philadelphia and made his lone All-Star appearance with the Yankees in 2018. He retires with a career 133-100 record and a lifetime 4.13 ERA over 1,893.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Fans seven in win
Rotowire
Happ (10-8) earned the win Thursday against the Brewers. He allowed three runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out seven across 6.1 innings.
Happ gave up a solo home run to Luis Urias in the third inning, then found himself in trouble during the fourth frame after serving up four consecutive hits before recording an out, resulting in another pair of runs. It was the longest start for the left-hander in over a month and just his fourth time this season without issuing any free passes. Happ finishes off the 2021 regular season with a 5.79 ERA and 1.48 WHIP.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Throws four shutout innings
Rotowire
Happ allowed two hits and four walks while striking out six in four scoreless innings during a no-decision in the first game of Friday's doubleheader versus the Cubs.
The 38-year-old wasn't efficient, needing 74 pitches (43 strikes) to get through the four-inning start. He was able to keep runs off the board for the second time in his last three starts, however. Happ owns a 5.86 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 115:48 K:BB through 146 innings between St. Louis and Minnesota this year. His last start of the regular season is projected to be a home date versus Milwaukee next week.
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Logs four-inning start Sunday
Rotowire
Happ did not factor into the decision in Sunday's win over the Padres, allowing three earned runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out two.
The left-hander was reasonably effective during his time on the mound, getting through his first pair of frames unscathed before allowing a pair of RBI singles to Fernando Tatis and Wil Myers and a run-scoring groundout to Eric Hosmer over his final two innings. Happ started off his Cardinals tenure with five straight strong outings during which he pitched to a 3-0 record, 2.22 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, but he's subsequently lost two of three decisions and generated 8.22 and 1.63 figures in those respective categories over his next four trips to the mound. Happ will look to sharpen back up in his next start, tentatively scheduled for Friday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Revenge outing against Reds
Rotowire
Happ (9-8) earned the win Sunday over the Reds after tossing 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out four.
Aside from earning the win and snapping a two-game losing streak, Happ also delivered a revenge outing since he had allowed seven runs against the Reds earlier this month. The veteran left-hander has given up two or fewer earned runs in six of his eight appearances since the beginning of August, but he only has two quality starts in that span.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Allows four runs in loss
Rotowire
Happ (8-8) allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday. He struck out three and did not issue a walk.
His night was bookended by homers; Albert Pujols in the first inning and Justin Turner in the fifth. After a strong initial run with St. Louis after coming over from Minnesota in a trade, Happ has cratered again with 11 earned runs allowed in his last two outings (six innings). He lines up to face the Reds on Sunday and will look for some measure of revenge after Cincinnati lit Happ up for seven earned runs Sept. 1.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Routed by Reds
Rotowire
Happ (8-7) took the loss in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Reds, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and two walks over one-plus innings. He failed to strike out a batter.
After the Cards eked out a 5-4 win in the matinee, Happ got the call to try and give his team a sweep, but three of the first five batters he faced tagged him for extra-base hits including a two-run homer by Nick Castellanos, and things went downhill for the veteran lefty from there. The 38-year-old came into the game having allowed only seven earned runs through his first five starts for St. Louis, but this performance evoked memories of the ineffective pitcher who staggered to a 6.77 ERA through 19 outings with Minnesota to begin the year.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Posts strong start
Rotowire
Happ picked up the win pitching 5.2 innings while allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in a win over Pittsburgh on Friday.
The veteran southpaw posted yet another strong start Friday in what was his fifth outing with St. Louis since being acquired at the trade deadline. Happ's last two starts have now both come against Pittsburgh where the left-hander has combined to allow four runs across 11.2 innings. Impressive since being acquired from Minnesota, Happ will look to continue his recent success when he makes his next start likely against either Cincinnati or Milwaukee.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Another strong start
Rotowire
Happ allowed two earned runs on six hits and a walk over six innings in a loss to the Pirates on Saturday. He also recorded eight strikeouts but did not factor into the decision.
Happ's issues with keeping the ball in the park did surface in the form of solo home runs by Kevin Newman and Yoshi Tsutsugo, but otherwise, he continued to look like a completely different pitcher than the one who was frequently hit hard and often while with the Twins earlier in the season. Factoring in Saturday's line, Happ owns a 2-0 record, 1.99 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across the 22.2 innings he's logged over his first four starts in a Cardinals uniform. He'll look to keep up his strong form in a likely rematch with the Pirates on Friday or Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Cruises to easy win
Rotowire
Happ (7-6) allowed five hits and two walks over 5.2 scoreless innings Sunday, striking out two and earning a win over the Royals.
Happ had a slight hiccup in the second inning but worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam. His offense racked up seven runs in the first two innings, and he earned his second consecutive win. The veteran lefty has been terrific since he was traded to St. Louis, allowing three runs over 16.2 innings (1.62 ERA) with an 11:5 K:BB in three outings. Happ is projected to face the Pirates at home next weekend.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Making third start Sunday
Rotowire
Happ is scheduled to make his third start with the Cardinals on Sunday in Kansas City, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Happ and fellow trade-deadline pickup Jon Lester both looked to be at risk of losing their spots in the rotation this week with Jack Flaherty (oblique) set to return from the 60-day injured list, but Kwang Hyun Kim's (elbow) move to the IL will afford both veteran lefties at least one more start. St. Louis is still expected to get Miles Mikolas (forearm) back from the 60-day IL next week, so how Happ and Lester fare during their outings in Kansas City could determine which of the two gets pushed out of the rotation. It's also possible that the Cardinals expand their rotation to six men to keep both Happ and Lester in starting roles.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Shuts down Pirates
Rotowire
Happ (6-6) allowed one earned run on one hit and two walks while striking out five across six innings to earn the win Tuesday against the Pirates.
Happ allowed only one hit, a solo home run by Hoy Park to lead off the fourth frame. Otherwise, Happ worked through the Pirates' lineup very efficiently, requiring only 86 pitches to record 18 outs. In two starts since joining the Cardinals, Happ has now allowed only three earned runs across 11 innings with nine strikeouts and three walks. That limited success stands in stark contrast to his 6.34 ERA and 86:34 K:BB across 109.1 innings on the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Goes five frames in Cardinals debut
Rotowire
Happ did not factor in the decision against Atlanta on Wednesday, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four.
Nolan Arenado's first-inning three-run homer staked Happ to an early lead, and he kept the Braves off the scoreboard for three frames. However, the southpaw gave up a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings before being replaced to start the sixth. Happ was by no means dominant in the contest, but his performance was an improvement over his final three outings with Minnesota, during which he posted a collective 11.25 ERA and 2.13 WHIP across 16 innings. It's uncertain how long Happ will remain in the rotation with both Jack Flaherty (oblique) and Miles Mikolas (forearm) nearing a return to the active roster.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Making St. Louis debut Wednesday
Rotowire
Happ is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.
The Cardinals will turn to the two starting pitchers they acquired ahead of last week's trade deadline -- Jon Lester and Happ -- to take the hill for their first two games of the series with Atlanta. Prior to being traded, the 38-year-old southpaw held down a spot in the Minnesota rotation despite a 6.77 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 98.1 innings, but Happ may need to turn in better results in his Cardinals debut to ensure he receives additional starts. With Miles Mikolas (forearm) and Jack Flaherty (oblique) both in the midst of rehab assignments, the Cardinals have two options waiting in the wings to replace Happ.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' J.A. Happ: Dealt to Cardinals
Rotowire
Happ was traded from the Twins to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for John Gant, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Happ has a 6.77 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 98.1 innings this season, so he's hardly a prized commodity. However, he will provide some rotation depth for the Cardinals down the stretch. Happ was next scheduled to start early next week, so it's unclear exactly which day he will join the Cardinals' rotation, but it could be in a home series against Atlanta.
Happ (5-6) allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out two across three innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Tigers.
Happ allowed two runs in the first two innings he pitched but fell apart in the fourth frame. He allowed the first seven batters he faced to reach base -- via three singles, two doubles and two walks -- which accounted for an additional seven earned runs. Though Happ has routinely allowed more than three earned runs in his outings this season, Wednesday marked his shortest start and featured the most runs charged to him in a single appearance. This disastrous effort only added to a dismal season, as Happ now has a 6.77 ERA across 98.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Twins' J.A. Happ: Surrenders four runs Friday
Rotowire
Happ allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts in six innings versus the Angels on Friday. He did not factor in the decision.
The Angels struck early against the southpaw, rallying for three runs in the first inning and adding another in the second. Luckily for Happ, Minnesota was able to pull off a comeback win to prevent him from taking consecutive losses. The 38-year-old owns a lackluster 6.14 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 75:27 K:BB through 95.1 innings this year. He lines up to make his next start versus Detroit next week.
