LAS VEGAS — As the third day of the winter meetings dripped into Tuesday afternoon, the possibility of J.A. Happ moving down the New Jersey Turnpike from The Bronx to Philadelphia was increasing.
At the same time, the chance of Manny Machado signing with the Yankees sat heavy in the recycled air at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, but the starting pitching was the main event.
“They are bringing it,’’ a talent evaluator from the AL East said of the Phillies’ interest in the 36-year-old lefty free agent whom the Yankees have been talking about bringing back to The Bronx.
A person with knowledge of the situation used the phrase “getting closer’’ to describe the discussions between Happ and the Phillies.
After the Yankees refused to give free-agent lefty Patrick Corbin a sixth year and watched him sign with the Nationals for that number of years and $140 million, the Yankees and Happ kept talking. The Yankees’ desire was to keep the talks centered on a two-year deal with Happ seeking three.
Should Happ return to Philadelphia, the organization he originally signed with in 2004 when he was selected in the third round and pitched for from 2007-10, the Yankees would be left with one opening in the rotation and the field of solid candidates dwindling.
After adding lefty James Paxton via a trade with the Mariners on Nov. 19 for a package of three prospects headed by lefty Justus Sheffield, the Yankees lost out on Corbin and Nathan Eovaldi (four years, $67.5 million from the Red Sox).
Furthermore the Indians, who are dangling starters Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer, aren’t in love with the Yankees’ minor league system, which has been depleted in recent years due to trades and Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres, Chad Green being promoted to the big leagues.
Lefty free agent Dallas Keuchel remains unsigned, as does Japanese lefty Yusei Kikuchi, 27, who went 14-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 33 starts for the Seibu Lions this past season. They are represented by Scott Boras, who historically doesn’t rush into free-agent deals. Among the other free-agent starters are Gio Gonzalez, Wade Miley, Charlie Morton and Lance Lynn.
Happ and the Yankees could be in a position where the club asked the pitcher to see what was out there for him and then get back to it. Ideally, Happ is a very good option — believed even better than Corbin in some circles because of the years and dollars involved and someone who doesn’t provoke worries about pitching in New York or in the rugged AL East.
Acquired from the Blue Jays in late July for infielder Brandon Drury and outfielder Billy McKinney, Happ went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts before pitching poorly in a Game 1 loss to the Red Sox in the ALDS. In two-plus innings, the Red Sox spanked Happ for five runs and four hits, which included a three-run homer in the first inning by J.D. Martinez.
Happ went a combined 17-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 31 starts for the Blue Jays and Yankees this past season.
In the past three years, while working for the Blue Jays and Yankees, Happ posted a 47-21 record and a 3.44 ERA. Happ, who has pitched for the Phillies, Astros, Blue Jays, Mariners, Pirates and Yankees, is 70-47 with a 3.88 ERA in seven AL seasons and 39-35 with a 3.92 ERA in seven years pitching in the NL.
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