Happ, Blue Jays Agree To Extension

March 16, 2013; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ (48) reacts after Baltimore Orioles catcher Taylor Teagarden (31) scores a run during the second inning at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsIt is funny how things work out. One day, you are heading down to Triple-A or being stuffed into the bullpen, the next you are getting a contract extension.

That is the case for J.A. Happ, who two days ago was an extra piece for the organization and is now in the position to cash in on another’s misfortune. On Wednesday, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that they have come to an agreement with Happ on a two-year contract.

The deal is worth $3.7 million in 2013 and $5.2 million in 2014. The Blue Jays will also hold a club option for 2015 at value of $6.7 million.

The 2013 contract will replace the one-year deal Happ signed with the team in January and would buy out the last year of Happ’s arbitration eligibility.

On Tuesday, Happ was named the team’s fifth starter to begin the season, while Ricky Romero will begin the season at Single-A Dunedin.

The extension is likely a way of smoothing the rift created between Happ and the organization while the lefty was being hung out to dry and Romero continued to struggle. Should Romero improve drastically in Dunedin, and Happ continues to pitch well, that rift could reappear as the Blue Jays could be forced to make a tough decision on either lefty.

The 30-year-old Happ owns a lifetime record of 35-35 with a 4.19 ERA and a 7.6 K/9 ratio over 116 appearances (96 starts).