12:54pm: The Cubs have optioned righty Felix Pena to Iowa to make room for Happ, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets.
12:32pm: The Cubs will, in fact, promote Happ, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune writes (Twitter links). Happ will bat second and play right field for the Cubs today. No corresponding move has yet been announced.
11:28am: The Cubs could promote top prospect Ian Happ as a short-term replacement today as a result of injuries to Addison Russell, Jon Jay and Kris Bryant, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com’s tweets. Russell is currently listed as day-to-day with shoulder soreness. Jay left yesterday’s game due to back spasms, and Bryant sat out yesterday due to illness. A promotion would give Happ his first taste of big-league action. He is not yet on their 40-man roster.
The 22-year-old Happ was the ninth overall pick in the 2015 draft out of the University of Cincinnati. He’s raced through the minors and is off to a hot start with Triple-A Iowa, batting .298/.362/.615 with nine homers in 116 plate appearances thus far in 2017. MLB.com currently rates him the No. 23 prospect in the game, with Baseball America placing him at No. 55 and ESPN’s Keith Law (Insiders only) at No. 63. MLB.com’s praises the switch-hitter’s bat speed and plate discipline, noting that he could eventually become a 20-20 player in the big leagues.
Happ has split his time between second base and the outfield as a pro, although MLB.com suggests his eventual destination is left field. The Cubs, of course, have Kyle Schwarber in left and Javier Baez and Ben Zobrist available at second, although they’re generally flexible in their lineup construction, and it doesn’t appear they’re planning to clear a permanent space for Happ right now anyway. If they were to promote him now, the move might well be temporary, as Muskat suggests — the Cubs have plenty of talent if everyone is healthy, and Happ has limited Triple-A experience and would likely become a Super Two player if he were to arrive in the big leagues and remain there.
Lol I saw this notification and immediately added Happ in fantasy (I heard Keith Law on Fantasy Focus say he could hit immediately) and then came back to the article and realized it said Cubs “could” promote Ian Happ
I have a feeling that the cubs are going to use him as trade bait to get an ace at the deadline.
If they believe in him do they try to move Baez to stagger when the young position players enter arbitration?
Thats just dumb. Why would you trade one of if not the best 2nd baseman in baseball. Unless you can get archer and ordozzi 2 for 1. Its not gonna happen
One of the best 2nd basemen, huh? You’re an embarrassment to cubs fans.
Lol.
Oh. Wait. You weren’t joking?
Baez is not even close to the best 2b in baseball.
1) Baez isn’t even close to being the best 2B in MLB.
2) There’s no chance Baez BY HIMSELF gets BOTH Archer and Odorizzi.
I seriously hope you’re joking.
Hes top 3 at the worst
baez is far from the best 2bmn in baseball. stop being a homer.
hes not im sure
altuve,cano,murphy,kinsler,kipnis,lemahieu, odor…im sure im missing a couple. all better than baez.
Clearly that part was a joke. To say hes not one of the best or top 3 is insane plus he can play 3rd short and 1st as good as any one at those positions
Lol murohy is not better. Lemahieh can pick it but hes not better..kinsler 5 years ago yes not now. Cano yes. Altuve yes. Odor is about the same they are even.
I stopped at Murphy hes not even top 20. He has one fluke playoff run and suddenly hes the best ever.
“One fluke playoff run” followed by a full season with a .985 OPS – which he’s now following up again this year with a .941 OPS. I guess those are flukes too in your head.
Wrek as in train wrek. Stick to basketball
You have to be joking. Murphy is 100 percent better then baez. Id talke murphy any day of the week over him. Baez is ranked a whopping 15th among 2B in espn sabermetrics
I think he means defensively. Thats an argument that could be made.
If he did, he would’ve said that by now.
He’ll probably come back and say you’re right though to attempt to save face.
Wait i just realized he said murphy is not even top 20. I cant take him seriously anymore
Odorizzi , Archer , Quintana , Sonny Gray maybe darvish will be availble for the cubs
lol LeMahieu. Take away his BAbip fluky 2016:
2011-15: .284/.329/.370/.699 / 81 OPS+
2017? .270/.348./.348/.696 / 73 OPS+
This is with half his games at Coors.
He never really was a top.20 2nd. Thats like saying dan.uggla is a hof.2nd baseman
Nba is so bad its noy even.worth discussing.
You’re hating on me because im speaking the truth.
Whats next youre gonna say christian arroyo is better than kris Bryant?
Clearly you need to learn baseball. And never hace watched javy baez play 2nd.
You’re getting sh*t on because you’re exaggerating. Baez might be the best defensive second baseman in baseball. He has a ton of untapped offensive potential, and if that catches up his defense then you’ll be right – but it hasn’t yet.
All of them could be had for as little as Baez! Lol
Baez Glove saved us against giants , Murphy’s cost mets vs royals in World Series
Do yourself and family a favor and go to rehab!
Were coming at you with stats and your just stating opinions. Baez’s offense isnt even close to the top 2b in the game
How so when its true? Youre an embarassment to the game of baseball. Maybe im a slight homer for him but theres no doubt hes top 3 in the NL behind LeMaheiu and whoever else. To even.make a comparison of baez and daniel Murphy is.just comical. Murphy doesnt have the.range baez has and although he hasnt shown his.full power yet he has potential.to hit 40 homeruns. Something murphy will never do.
Those were some great plays. Throwing out Span like that. And he.made that same play twice. Plus the play were he dropped the pop up in the nlcs vs the Dodgers was a veteran play.
I was always talking about his defense. I never once mentioned his bat. If he laid off horrible pitches he’d be a future mvp candidate.
Odor? And his.204 avg? Ha ha ha
Thats your problem. Espn only cares about new york and boston teams. Of course theyd rank.him that low.
Don’t worry guys, he’s only 12 years old. He’ll realize how dumb this is in a few years.
? Baez isn’t even the best second basemen on the Cubs, let along in Major League Baseball.
I still don’t know why people are so high on this guy. I get it, he has “the look” and he makes some flashy plays, but he’s a slump and strikeout machine.
When it’s good, it doesn’t last long, and when it’s bad, it’s absolutely atrocious.
If I’m Theo, I keep Happ, and go use Baez as trade bait.
Top 3 OF the worst? You can’t really believe he’s one of the top 3 second baseman in baseball right? I’m not sure he’s even the best second baseman on his own team let alone the league… he’s definitely top 5 in the division though haha
I’m gonna copy and paste this forever:
LOL LeMahieu. Take away his BAbip fluky 2016:
2011-15: .284/.329/.370/.699 / 81 OPS+
2017? .270/.348./.348/.696 / 73 OPS+
This is with half his games at Coors.
Damn, didn’t see DJones comment, completely agree with it. Also what was up with that tag out in the WBC where he tried showing off by celebrating before the tag and damn near missed it? He really needs to grow up and quit showboating, I can foresee a situation between him and Bumgarner happening in the future
Ok don’t everybody chew me out all at once but I’m just going to float it…why not think about trading Schwarber at the deadline to get a top-level starter since we are most likely going to use lose Jake Arrieta to free agency at the end of the year? Let’s face it Kyle schwarber is a stud but, he’s better suited for the American League in the DH spot just a thought..
That’s exactly what i just said. i agree.
That’s exactly what I said. It’s bound to happen and i could definitely see Tampa having some interest in him.
The same Kyle Schwarber that has a .680 OPS?
Unless he starts mashing very soon, he’s not going to bring back a top level starter on his own (unless it’s a rental).
He just fine in left field. He threw out a speedy runner on tuesday. His fld %age is 1.000. You dont trade a guy like him. You extend him as soon as you can
his numbers need to improve
I’m just going to say this quoting a fielding percentage for an OF is a joke. It usually just means that you don’t boot routine fly balls that you’re camped under. It doesn’t account for balls you should have or could have caught but didn’t touch. It doesn’t account for lack of range so on so forth.
He’s an average LF, but then again he’s playing LF for his bat. He’s dons a little above average uzr and a -5 DRS. But please let’s stop quoting fielding % for OFs as if it means anything at all.
They will. For all the “lore” of Schwarber, which comes from a couple monster homers in the 2015 postseason and a major return for the 2016 World Series, he’s still a guy with less than 450 big league plate appearances. Struggles are to be expected.
I think saying he’s “average” is a little generous, but I agree 100% on the fielding % (as would most people, I assume).
The Cubs are run by an executive who won a World Series with Manny Ramirez. They’re coached by a manager who put Pedro Strop and Travis Wood in left field during games in 2016. Needless to say, no one who runs the Cubs gives a crap about the defensive quality of the left fielder.
I wasn’t arguing that or even if they cared about LF defense. I was just pointing out that judging an OFs effectiveness by fielding % is ludicrous.
I was responding the the thread in general. His bat has enormous potential and that’s what the Cubs decision makers care about. It wouldn’t matter if he was atrocious in LF. He’s not getting traded because of defense.
He has caught everything that was catchable. Including one he bobbled and still.hung on to. Diving into the stands means nothing now I guess.
No, it really doesn’t matter to anything other than the highlight real and it never has.
So much for that perfect fielding percentage. Way to jinx him.
Well I mean he hasn’t, with that error today it’s no longer 1000% lol. His diving catch does mean something it means he made a spectacular play. One play doesn’t really define a players defensive ability though. My point was fielding % means nothing for OFs. It’s even a bad measure to try to argue for. You can physically misplay the ball as an OF, but if you don’t touch it it’s a hit.
And no he hasn’t caught everything that was catchable. I’m not doubting he can eventually turn into an average LF, but his lack of range and questionable reads probably will never allow him to be more than just average. His value is in his bat plain and simple.
And as a Dodgers fan I like watching Schwarber hit and run the bases with reckless abandon. Lets just be realistic and understand his defensive abilities are better suited at 1b/DH, which is no slight against him.
Still perfect buddy.
I guess you missed tonight’s game…
Well he’s not perfect according to his fielding % so…
You don’t give up a lefty with those kind of hitting skills.
He’s in a slump, and people need to honestly calm down. It’s baseball. It happens sometimes. He’ll pull out of it and be fine.
Also, his defense is much improved. So the “he’s a DH” argument is null and void, as far as I’m concerned.
Schwarber is one of Theo’s guys. Trust me, he isn’t going anywhere, and for good reason.
True baseball people understand that you don’t give up on a guy for having a bad month or two in baseball. The concept is absolutely ridiculous.
It’s 2017. Are people still using fielding % seriously? For real?
Happ , candelario both could be soon gone. Odorizzi, cole, archer type would be nice. Hopefully butler or Montgomery could be 4
As I said before they can get archer without trading happ or anyone on the 25 man roster and now happ is on the 25 roster and he should stay there. Option jay to iowa
Isn’t he still hitting like .300?
Jay has been great in his role. Vets are much better suited for part time work. A guy like Happ needs to play regularly. And if that can’t be done in the big leagues, then it needs to happen in the minors.
Who would Tampa take for archer?
Start with Happ or Jimenez and work backward … prolly add another very good prospect. And two average prospects.
If Tampa were smart, they wouldn’t move him for any less than at least 2 of Happ/Jimenez/Cease plus 2 more guys. Probably an organizational 8-12ish ranked guy and someone around 20ish.
Well reports from the Houston’s attempt was quite substantial. With the Rays asking for Martes, Paulino, Fisher, Tucker plus. So essentially more than what the Soxs wanted for Quintana. Archer is going to cost an absolute overpay.
Jay can’t be optioned. He’s a veteran
LaStella must go back to Iowa even though he could start on Major league clubs a lot of them
As a Cubs guy, I’d still prefer to trade for Royals Christian Colon for the week.
Save the 40 Man spot.
Showcasing Happ, perhapps.
How does that save a 40 man spot? They’d still have to put colon on the 40 man.
I would rather they trade Javy. Call me crazy but someone has to go and I wouldn’t cry if it was him
You just dont trade a guy like javy. He’s way to valuable. They have the prospects to trade for Chris archer without even giving up anyone from their 25 man roster and ian happ wont be traded either
They probably need more than one starter. They’re not getting anyone of value without Javy Schwarber or Ian happ. It isn’t happening. No pun intended
They could easily get an ordozzi or archer without trading those three. Schwarber is untouchable. He’s not getting traded. He one of a kind you hold on to a player of his caliber.
If the cubs wanted another pitcher, It would start with Jimenez or Happ
Jimenez will be the one traded. They will.need happ when heyward opts out in 2 years
That’s if Heyward opts out, Almora can take over for Heyward if he does leave, Jimenez can be used as trade bait for maybe Archer.
Um… this is the kind of comment you get when you’ve never seen the guy play and assume his best sample size is a fluke.
Heyward isn’t’ opting out, he’s stealing money, he’s not gonna get that deal again, stuck w/em!
Depends what his value is at in three years. If his value warrants another 8 year deal then he’ll opt out.
Almora will be in center field not right if heyward opts out.
It wasn’t even a bad deal. People comparing it to alfonso sorianos deal are idiots. He had one bad year and.suddenly its the worst deal ever. Nothing will ever top both A-Rod deals for over half a billion $.. a known cheater for more than half his career and he gets that kind of bread such a disgrace he is and was to the game. Bud selig didn’t have the bawls to ban him for life. He cheated and lied every single time he was.asked about it.
Completely agree. I think far too many people still have the disappointing Heyward of last year stuck in their heads.
This year, the guy is playing (arguably) All-Star caliber baseball.
He’s been one of the few bright spots.
Lol no, he hasn’t – and it’s not even close.
The only reason it may seem that way is because last year was SO AWFUL that this year looks like a massive improvement. In reality, he still can’t hit. His .697 OPS this year is the second lowest of his career – ahead of only last year’s train wreck.
i would bet Schwarber gets traded within the next year for a top tier pitcher if he hits well enough. He would be a hell of a DH in the American League.
Theo likes him too much. You gotta give him a huge contract 7 or 8 years 190mil
.680 OPS
Plus no range in LF
Plus not even arbitration eligible yet
Equals 7/8 year $190mil contract
Got it.
Schwarber is a .223 career hitter with a .680 OPS at the moment.
You, sir, are either insane, a troll, or an insane troll.
I guess you missed his outfield assist against the Rockies on tuesday. He has plenty of upside in left. You can just trade a guy like that. Brian.cashman was straight up hing up.on when he.asked for him for miller. Honestly 2 for 1 for chapman and a ws win is worth it. But glayber torres could have pulled in both miller and Chapman. Torres is gonna be the next jeter for the Yankees. Theyll trade castro and move gregourous to 2nd til they trade him
LOL. Gleybar Torres is what happens when a BP scout sees a prospects 18 best games. (AFL.) Outside those 18 games, he’s a .750-ish OPS guy. He’s a higher upside (offensively) Erick Aybar without the speed more than anything else.
How about all three?
He’s 20… consistently the youngest player at each level.
As was Jeter who OPS’d .931 at triple-A. It’s a bad comp.
I agree with you 100%. I think Gleybar is a very good prospect and has a lot of potential (and I’d love to have him in my org), but my god he got hyped up extremely quickly after that monstrous AFL stint.
He’ll be a nice everyday player with the potential to make an all-star team or two. The #2 prospect in the game? Insane.
Agree. Baez is largely overrated. Swings for the fences on every pitch, is a strikeout machine, and the slumps are long and painful.
I don’t want them to trade Happ. I view him as Zobrist’s ultimate replacement perhaps platooning with him next year. I think Eloy Jimenez would be prime trade bait if the Cubs try and acquire an arm.
I’m also not convinced Baez is a full time MLB starter. He has to start laying off pitches in the dirt.
Agree on all counts. Happ is solid and consistent. Baez is the opposite…..really good for short stretches, and painfully bad the rest of the time.
What an improvement over the Cubs’ many Happ-less years…..
Javy Baez hasn’t even been a top 3 2B in the NL this year (Murphy, Cesar Hernandez and Brandon Drury)
he doesnt like murphy for some reason lol. I think a 331/389 with a 941 OPS with a 157 OPS is awesome but what do i know? lol
Again fluke year. He hasnt done jacksquat this year. Hes back from cloud 9.
So if Murphy had a “fluke year” last year, and hasn’t done jacksquat this year, then by comparison Bryant also had a fluke year and isn’t doing jacksquat this year?
Nope not even. Its not even.fair to compare those two. Bryant is 1000x better than murphy will ever be. Like the last 2 years Bryant had slow starts
Please stop embarrassing us Cubs fans. Murphy is currently hitting .331/.389/.551. If that’s called not doing “jack squat”, then I’m embarrassed for you as a fan.
I would consider Javy probably the best overall DEFENSIVE 2B, but he’s far from the best overall 2B right now. He has done nothing in his career offensively so far to put himself at the top like that.
Murphy was MVP-calibre last year. You don’t “fluke” 800 Plate Appearances. If you had played baseball, you’d know that mate.
29 other teams would jump at the chance to add Murphy to their team. Every. Single. Other. Team. Just look at what his presence has done for Harper, Zimmerman and Rendon.
You’ve got a lot to learn about baseball Wrek305.
Brandon drury? Who the heck is that. Hes probably a judy hitter Hernandez
Stop embarrassing yourself he’s not a punching judy hitter. He has a better career ISO than Baez with a career better BA,OBP, Slugg, OPS, better walk and K rate. Essentially more xbh in 67 or so less games. He’s just a far superior hitter to Baez and Baez is a far superior defender. All Drury has done since his entrance into the league has been hit.
In fairness, I don’t think anyone on this board would trade Baez for Drury or Hernandez …
Trading Happ is short-sided, which this FO is not. Expect Zobrist to move into more of a Montero role next season, if not this. (Zobrist is freaking 36. Last season was his best year since 2012. Never gonna happen again. His bat speed from the left side has disappeared.)
This FA SP market comes with Darvish/Tanaka/Otani/etc. Why throw away the farm now? Move Jeimer-plus for a Montgomery-Volgelbach type deal for a controllable fourth-ish arm.
*short-sighted
Also, the Cubs won’t be players for Otani because they still will have significant spending restrictions on international free agents this offseason.
You can’t say it’s short sighted without knowing who they’d get back.
thank you…. Otani can’t get signed for big money because he won’t have enough NPB service time. There has been discussion of potentially changing the rules for him, which would lock the Cubs out.
You’re right that he can’t get signed for big money, but I think the bonus pool alottment is like $5M that an international free agent can be signed for. Since the Cubs are still under penalty for overspending in previous international free agency, they’re limited to only like $300,000 spending. So even without the ability to throw a ton of money at Otani, the Cubs still wouldn’t be able to spend enough to lure him there.
baseballamerica.com/international/2017-18-internat…
The Cubs bonus allotment is $4.75M, but since they’re in their 2nd year of exceeding their previous allotment, they can’t sign a player for more than $300,000 (hence the asterisk next to their name)
For sure. Just from what I’ve read, he would be willing to eat cash now to join a winning team that also promises him he’ll play two-ways and a contract adjustment to click in his arbitration after his first year. Etc. Etc. But, yeah, it would be a massive long shot for the Cubs.
Agree. Zobrist won’t be starting next year. It would take another career year (this year) to prevent that from happening. Which I highly doubt he has in him.
He’ll transition into more of a part-time player/coach/mentor role, just like Ross.
That spot needs to be freed up, anyway. Too much young talent banging on the door, and big decisions about this talent need to be made. That’s why they need to play more.
Just got his first (almost) knock.
Jimenez, candelario, and Almora for Quintana and Nate jones.
He’s no Cody Bellinger -ROY!!!
If I had to guess, Ian Happ looks like he will eventually be the Cubs’ permanent 2B with Javy Baez being Ben Zobist’s heir as the SuperSub. However, the way Joe Maddon manages, everyone is a full-time player without a permanent position.
I don’t think the Cubs need more SPs. They need the SPs they have to get on track. If anything, they need LH-RPs and more OF speed.