Report: Phillies engaged in 'ongoing dialogue' with Happ

The Philadelphia Phillies may be zoning in on their next free-agent target.

Philadelphia is reportedly engaged in "ongoing dialogue" with left-hander J.A. Happ, according to Jayson Stark of The Athletic. It's unclear if any deal is imminent.

Philadelphia reportedly turned to Happ after missing out on Patrick Corbin, who signed a megadeal with the division rival Washington Nationals. With both Corbin and Nathan Eovaldi - who returned to Boston - now off the table, Happ is arguably the best starting pitcher left on the open market.

Happ is seeking a three-year deal, Stark reports, and if the Phillies are willing to give him that length, they could pull away from the pack.

The New York Yankees, who traded for Happ ahead of last year's deadline, still want to re-sign him, but would reportedly prefer to do so on a two-year deal, according to George A. King III of the New York Post.

Happ's familiarity with pitching in Citizens Bank Park could help Philadelphia in negotiations. He pitched for the Phillies from 2007-10 and helped them capture a World Series in 2008. Happ was also a runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year on their pennant-winning 2009 squad.

Last year, the 36-year-old earned his first career All-Star berth by going 17-6 with a 3.65 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts in 31 combined starts between the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.

Besides the Phillies and Yankees, a variety of teams, including the Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, and Atlanta Braves, have also been linked to Happ this offseason.