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By Mark Polishuk | at
Email a copy of 'NL Notes: Giants, Blanco, Orioles, Voth, Happ' to a friend
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Philliesfan4life
Happ is going to be traded for a pitcher or closer next year
tim815
Not sure that’s necessary. Or wise.
I’ll save you the question.
“Where will he even play?”
In 2017, in Tennessee with a large side slice of Iowa.
In 2018, Iowa and breaking in with the Cubs.
At some point in 2018, Zobrist will become expendable, with Baez becoming more of a regular starter than his current John Havlicek role.
Happ could get traded. However, the SP had better be reaaaaaly good. And have a few years of cost control remaining.
As Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Baez, and others get really expensive (Quicker than you expect.), the Cubs will need league-minimum options like Happ to stay under the luxury tax threshold most of the time, if not most of it.
By 2020, Happ should be getting 400-500 PA per year or more. As to where, that will be determined by who gets moved when, as they get more expensive.
Cubs fans aren’t used to having 10-12 good offensive players. That number figures to climb if they’re going to have a ten-twelve year run of success. Which is the goal.
jonnyblah
A very unlikely goal… injuries weren’t a problem last year, but they probably will be at some point, guys having off years, free agency, maintaining depth, etc, etc, baseball.
CompanyAssassin
A rather optimistic view there, tim.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Sustained contending is always the goal, but how many teams have been that good for that long in the last 30 years? The Yankees with their exorbitant spending from 96 through the next decade or so and the Braves in the 90s (though they got only one WS title). The Cubs won’t be able to keep all those guys, even if they are willing to go into the luxury tax. For one, the total cost will just be too high, and second, some guys just want to be the everyday starter at a position, not play musical chairs like the Cubs do. If they manage to keep Bryant, Rizzo, and Schwarber together, they’ll stay relevant, but don’t expect them to be as good as they were last year for the next dozen years.
thebare
Hope not trade Zoo not the kids
usafcop
What he said….
brood550
As long as the Cubs have Schwarber. Contreras, Russell, and Baez, Happ has almost little path to regular playing time. The best shot he currently has with the roster “as is” is to displace Le Stella for the Utility Spot. I’m really curios to see how Zobrist and Baez are used together for the next 2-3 years. 2 years for sure since Zobrist has a full no-trade clause prior to 2019. Given that the Cubs’ have Jimenez as an outfield option, and I think Candelario for sure gets traded, I’m thinking Happ may be flipped as well given how set the lineup looks for a few years.
tim815
Because injuries never happen. And Joe Maddon constantly trots out the same eight hitters for all nine innings every game.
Happ will have three option seasons once he gets called up. Which hasn’t happened yet.
That pitcher had better be really good, and have plenty of years left of team control.
CompanyAssassin
I bet zobrist will be traded away at some point. With a second baseman and a large amount of outfield options, I bet he gets traded for depth of some kind, rotation or bullpen. No sense in having zobrist play 4th outfielder, its a waste.
jekporkins
For the Giants it seems easy – drop Morse and Rollins. Rollins is really just a backup SS (I think he’s played one inning at 3rd base in his career) and they have Tomlinson and Hill and Nunez that can play all over the diamond. Morse is a great guy but can’t play defense nor hit enough to warrant a spot.
SupremeZeus
You forgot Gordon Beckham. j/k
pjmcnu
Haha, the problem with Happ making himself a Zobrist-type player in order to increase his chances of making the club is that, unlike other teams, the Cubs have the actual Ben Zobrist!