Yankees shift Happ to bullpen for rest of regular season

Veteran New York Yankees left-hander J.A. Happ will move to the bullpen for the remainder of the season, according to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News.

Happ hasn't pitched in relief since 2015 when he came out of the bullpen once as a member of the Seattle Mariners. He said Sunday he accepted manager Aaron Boone's decision.

"I mean, it is what it is. I am comfortable with doing what it takes to try and win in the postseason," Happ said.

The move isn't a major surprise. Boone told Tom Verducci of SI.com last week that the Yankees would take a different approach to their pitching staff down the stretch.

"We're going to be a little untraditional," Boone said. "The only one we might use as a traditional starter is (James) Paxton."

Happ joins fellow veteran CC Sabathia among the Yankees' converted bullpen options.

The 36-year-old has struggled in 2019, the first season of a two-year, $34-million contract he signed last offseason. Happ is 12-8 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.30 WHIP and has allowed 34 home runs. Only Mike Leake, Matthew Boyd, and Yusei Kikuchi have served up more long balls this season.

The lefty was a key contributor for the Yankees after they acquired him from the Toronto Blue Jays last summer. He went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts in 2018 before re-signing in free agency.