Yankees J.A. Happ struggles again, so what about Dallas Keuchel?

With Luis Severino and James Paxton on the IL, the Yankees need much more from veteran lefty J.A. Happ. If he is unable to provide such, it may be time to consider signing free agent Dallas Keuchel, seriously.

The Yankees re-signed J.A Happ to a two-year, $34 million deal to bring stability to the starting rotation. Thus far, the 36-year-old left-hander has been the polar opposite of the guy who was acquired from the Blue Jays last July.

In 10 starts, the 13-year veteran is 3-3 with a 5.16 ERA, 1.299 WHIP and 6.9 K/9 across 52.1 innings pitched. Sure, it’s too early to hit the panic button, but when your staff is bereft of its top two starters — Luis Severino and James Paxton, you need everyone, especially the vets to hold the line.

Just look at the job C.C. Sabathia has done at the back-end of the rotation since returning from his lengthy IL stint: 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.211 WHIP and 6.7 K/9 in 29 innings (seven starts).

How long Sabathia stays healthy, Domingo German and his MLB-best eight wins continue to dominate, or Masahiro Tanaka toes the line between expectation and execution is anyone’s guess.

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Naturally, getting back Paxton sometime within the next two weeks and Severino possibly after the All-Star break will be crucial.

However, each time any pitcher goes out and lays an egg, like Happ did on Monday night versus the awful Orioles — all it does is put more pressure on the other four starters, and subsequently, the bullpen.

In Happ’s fourth starts against the Orioles already this season, he allowed six runs, including two homers in only 3.2 innings. His shortest outing of 2019 thus far, has culminated in 15 earned runs and seven long balls in just 17 innings to the Orioles, alone.

With Jordan Montgomery likely out until August as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, Jonathan Loaisiga recently moved to the 60-day IL, and Luis Cessa stuck in long reliever limbo, should Happ’s control of his fastball continue to be an issue, making a move for Dallas Keuchel is the most logical upgrade.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, following the completion of the MLB Draft (June 3-5), Keuchel’s associated compensatory pick will no longer be a hindrance.

Ken Rosenthal reports that Keuchel’s super-agent Scott Boras will likely seek more than the one-year, $17.9M qualifying offer they turned down from Houston last winter.

With the likes of Arizona and Tampa circling the possibility of offering Keuchel a contract post-draft, the Yankees may have to act quickly if they wish to sign a pitcher with bonafide Postseason experience. Perhaps a multi-year deal with lower AAV would entice the 31-year-old left-hander.