One free agent target of the Pirates is officially off the table. J.A. Happ, whom many within the Pirates’ organization, as well as experts and media members, figured to be the top free agent target of the Pirates this offseason, signed a 3-year, $36 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. One of the first to break the news was Tom Singer, former Pirates’ writer for MLB.com:
This hurts: #BlueJays sign A.J.Happ to 3-year deal for $36M. #pirates really hoped to keep him – but not at Liriano price.