In a surprise move, the Cubs have optioned outfielder/infielder Ian Happ to Triple-A Iowa, manager Joe Maddon announced Saturday (via Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic). Happ’s “not happy” about the demotion, Maddon revealed.
The decision comes in the wake of a miserable spring for the 24-year-old Happ, who batted an awful .135/.196/.192 in 52 at-bats during the exhibition season. Before that, Happ looked like a shoo-in to open the season in a prominent role in Chicago, where the former high-end prospect emerged following a mid-May promotion in 2017. Since then, the switch-hitting Happ has slashed .242/.341/.459 (109 wRC+) with 39 home runs in 875 plate appearances. Defensively, Happ has seen a significant amount of action in all three outfield spots and at third base with the Cubs.
Happ figured to start 2019 in the Cubs’ outfield, but he’ll have to wait before factoring into their lineup again. For now, the Cubs want Happ to work on cutting down his strikeouts in the minors, per Maddon (via Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune). Strikeouts have indeed been a problem for Happ, who fanned in 33.8 percent of major league PAs from 2017-18 and went down another 14 times during the spring.
Chicago’s in position to temporarily say goodbye to Happ because of the depth in its outfield, where it has several experienced options. Jason Heyward, Albert Almora Jr. and Kyle Schwarber lead the way among the team’s primary outfielders, while Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant, David Bote, Daniel Descalso and Mark Zagunis also represent 40-man outfield possibilities on hand. Johnny Field, meanwhile, has held his own this spring after joining the Cubs via waivers from the Twins during the offseason.
Huh who beat him out for a job?
Zagunis. Which, honestly, makes sense, Zagunis has outplayed him top-to-bottom this spring.
They both made boneheaded plays during Friday’s loss.
It’s fake baseball
Just stop calling something ‘fake’ just because you don’t like or agree with it.
Fake comment.
He played himself out of a MLB job ! He has no one to blame but himself!! Too many KKK
Yikes.
Good call
Is he a racist?
If he was, the buffoon in chief would absolutely annoint him a tremendous and amazing guy.
Found one
Watch it, your bias stupidity is showing!
No one. At the same time it gives almora an chance to play every day like he should. Theres zero reasons to option happ. This is very stupid.
Zero reasons other than he’s been garbage since 2017.
He’s had one full season. He’s still a very good player. Better than most.
A regular All Star, right Bryzz?
Mookie wilson
Wtf?
Good.
If it’ll help I’m all for it
WOW. This is shocking. Option a solid outfield bat who also has good positional versatility?
There’s a little pop in his bat but that’s only if he makes contact. He’d be vying for the league lead with Chris Davis if he had enough plate appearances. He’s nothing special.
Nothing solid about Happ offensively. Long swing, poor contact, slow hands. Power alone isn’t enough to be an everyday player, especially with that strikeout rate.
I’d take Ian Happ’s long swinging switch-hitting bat, athleticism and defensive versatility on the South Side over the likes of Daniel Palka and Nicky Delmonico in a heartbeat. Tell us all how you’d rather see those last two along with Adam Engel and Jon Jay in CF and RF over Happ.
um, okay then
wow
Cub fans have been high on happ. Has he looked bad this spring ?
because one spring means you are a bad player.
The .233 average last year with 167 strike outs last season might have played something into it as well
plus he has 3 options, he was rushed up to begin with. may be a position change as well, he isn’t a CF and the don’t need him in the corner OF spots.
If you follow Theo closely—-the mantra has shifted from “potential” to “production”. This is not shocking at all. Happ was at the top of the non-productive list last season (which got crowded late). He really got exposed batting left handed last year——it’s almost an option that he should hit right handed exclusively. This move will either give Adames or Zagunis a chance or a grab at third catcher (Rivera became available today).
Trending in the wrong direction. Got outplayed by Zagunis this spring and needs to show he can’t make the necessary adjustments before they just hand over that ‘prominent role’ described in the article.
You have that the other way around. The only thing he did good last year was hit left handed. He was terrible when batted righty. His splits from batting lefty last year were nearly identical. It’s batting righty where he tanked last year.
Haven’t followed them this spring, but for this to happen he must have really struggled.
Yes, he looks clueless at the plate. He’s batting .135 with 7 hits and 14 k’s in 52 at bats this spring.
I’ve never been that high on him, I’m glad Almora is finally getting his shot to be everyday CF, or I hope he is.
Happ has always been one dimensional at the plate. It’s either a HR, or a strikeout. He’s not getting better, and that’s a problem.
You’re actually describing Daniel Palka. At least Ian Happ can draw some BB’s to go with his HR’s and SO’s.
WOW
Still remember him hitting that first pitch of 2018 for a homerun.
He peaked early!
Thank God! The guy is lost at the plate!
Yep. Contreras too.
Must not have improved from last year. And that is saying a lot
Service time manipulation, will prevent him from making Super 2 next year.
No.
Wrong.
How “wrong” or “no”?
He has 1.42 years of service time. If they keep him down for a few weeks he will end the year with around 2.20 years of service time and they will be able to pay him the minimum rather than go to arbitration.
his poor play is the reason, not service time
Lol he stinks. Nothing to do with service time.
Lol, he had a bad ST.. you are literally the only person who think he stinks.
Bastros is right, of course, that this would not have happened if not for the poor ST. But lets not pretend getting to save $3m or so per year over the next four years is not a factor.
He’s a league average hitter at 23 with positional versatility.
Guy batted .196 in the 2nd half with extreme K issues. Followed that up with ST where he showed all of the same problems. Not always a malicious intent behind things. He needs to work on his approach. Money had very little to do with this. If Ian Happ is batting .196 he’s not helping the cubs at all.
The Cubs are trying to win a World Series. Saving $3M/yr is absolutely not a factor. This is 100% performance-related.
He would need to be in the minors until at least July to avoid that.
Um ok…
He has 1.142 years of service time. If they bring him up July 1 he would accrue 90 days (season ends Sept 29.) So he would end the year with 2.051 days of service time. Which is like 75 days short of Super 2. Meaning they would have to keep him down not til July 1 but til like April 15. Or thereabouts (later in April to be safe.)
Good angle on this play. It’s all about the money in the end isn’t it?
I had that thought myself. not sure it’s the main motivation but it would be awfully convenient if this demotion cost him super 2 or even an extra year before FA
Probably to work on 2B defense. Almora is the everyday CF now.
If he’s working on that defense for anything more than 29 days, Russell will be back. He’s wasting his time at 2b.
Russell will not be back. He’ll be traded for pitching before his suspension is up.
It’s cute that you think he has trade value….
He has plenty of it. Despite his off field issues. He’s still a very good shortstop. Easily top 20 in baseball when healthly
He’s a good (not elite) defender with a bad bat, and being “top 20” isn’t all that impressive when there are only 30 starting shortstops in the league. He’s nowhere near good enough to make other teams ignore his personal issues (like they did with Chapman). Heck, I’m not even convinced he’s better than Jose Iglesias, and Iglesias couldn’t even get a major league deal this offseason. At best, Russell has minuscule trade value.
Top 20 SS maybe… But considering there are only 30 teams, that’s not saying much…
Especially given all his other baggage…
I didn’t say he was #20. I said he w was in the top 20. The only ss better than him in the AL is Correa and Lindor and glayber Torres
He’s better than all west coast teams SS. He’s overall 13.
He’s not better than Seager, Simmons, Story, or even Nick Ahmed. Marcus Semien is on roughly the same level and that’s just teams in the West. (That you claim he’s better than) You’d be extremely fortunate to receive 80% of the package Toronto got for Osuna and that wasn’t much.
What the heck can Simmons do that Russell cant? Maybe a better hitter. Nick ahhmed isnt even a top 50 ss. Simmons isn’t a top 25 ss. Russell is better than both. Russell can learn to throw left handed and bat left handed and be better than Simmons.
Seager and Russell are about the same with seager being slightly better on offense
It was a nice troll attempt though
Bryant, Arizona, Baez, Almora, Schwarber, Contreras, Heyward, Zobrist, Bote, Caratini, Descalso, ???? Who is the last guy, assuming they carry 13 pitchers?
Arizona?
Rizzo. Apparently autocorrect thinks Arizona is playing 1B on the North Side this year.
He’s as big as Arizona
Arizona should be playing 1B for the Diamondbacks in 2019.
my guess is Maples, bullpen is a mess.
Yeah but they won’t break with 14 pitchers. Gotta be another OF I would think…..
if it’s another position player I’d have to think is Zagunis, otherwise they’d have to add someone to the 40 man. can’t imagine Taylor Davis makes the team.
Yeah gotta think Zagunis or maybe Field..? Pretty surprising move but also makes sense. Happ has a bright future if he can make some adjustments.
Yikes…..
That Horner kid looks pretty solid, but they may want to keep him in the minors for a while
I doubt we see him until 2020, would be quite shocking but you never know with this team.
Not sure he is on the 40 man yet.
he’s not
Hey Zaidi, still looking for an outfield trade possibility?
He’s not getting moved for anything the Giants can offer. I’m sure they would love to have him though, considering how abysmal that OF will be. Yikes.
As horrendous as that bullpen is, if they offered Smith or Watson and a middle of the road prospect, they’d be stupid not to take that for a guy that is clueless at the plate.
If you follow the Cubs, you understand this move. Surprise? Yeah, a little. But prob a good move
Been pretty apparent with MLBTR that they need a bigger team of writers following as small amount of teams as possible. They literally said the A’s could go after LoMo (who is terrible) in the wake of the Olson news instead of understanding that the A’s have Canha vs LHP at 1B and either Profar or Pinder who will play there vs RHP.
Weirdly enough the Olson injury gives more playing time to Barreto, who needs it, so the A’s should be fine with this and not acquiring anyone.
“Happ has seen a significant amount of action in all three corner outfield spots”
?
What’s to question about that? He’s played left, center, and right. Many innings at each. Understand?
Center is not considered a corner outfield spot
My bad I misread. Nice catch.
He was terrible all year last year and did not back it up with a strong spring. There’s something wrong with his swing for sure.
The something wrong with his swing is that he tries to do it left handed. He needs to be right handed hitting exclusively.
No argument here
2018 Ian Happ vs RHP as LHB: .244/.374/.442
2018 Ian Happ vs LHP as RHB: .202/.291/.317
Me thinks you have it backwards…
All 3 corner outfield spots?
Adamis and use Zoe in the outfield more….could be Zag
Where does that leave Zig?
Interesting. Guy got major pub when he first came up. Just not making adjustments at the plate? Is Happ on the Gordon Beckham career path?
Ugh Beckham.
Beckham still on a MLB roster.
OK career I guess, but not what the Sox hoped for.
Should’ve happened last year.
More than Happ disappointing, Zagunis has awoken! His only negative was lack of power but now he’s following Bote’s path and is showing elite exit-velo!
Do the Cubs hang up on the Elias phone call:
Chris Davis and a boat load of cash for one Ian Happ
cash is always nice, but yes, they hang up
Hahaha! Oh well.
Where would they play him..?
If we cant afford Kimbrel we cant afford Davis, even with a boatload of cash.
Click
You’re gonna need a new boat……
The Chris Davis contract makes Jason Heyward’s look like a bargain in comparison. At least Heyward still has some MLB skills including superb defense, smart base running and solid veteran leadership. With a change of scenery, a better manager and more stability with hitting coaches I could see Heyward approaching his pre-Cub WAR numbers with the right team.
Not surprised. He did nothing to earn a spot.
A bad spring and he’s out the door?
added to a bad year and a half in the majors. he has 3 options left, use them so he can figure out how to not strikeout every other AB
So does this mean the Cubs are Happ-less?
This is why Maddon says Ian’s un-Happ-y
Cubs screwed him up by trying to make him Ben Zobrist the 2nd…Russell, Schwarber and now Happ promising top prospects they failed to develop.
What? His problem is his inability to make contact with a baseball. And Schwarber was a 3 fWAR player in 500 PAs last year, that’s not failing to develop.
msq is right. Russell has regressed (and has potentially ruined his career. Time will tell), and Happ has been jerked around. Happ has talent. I think the last couple years have worn him out mentally and it’s affecting his play. I wouldn’t call him mentally weak, just a young player knowing he can play and not playing.
Cubs would have been better off making trades to address problems rather than big signings of Heyward and Darvish. Easy to say in-hindsight. However, they’ve had depth for quite some time and needed to capitalize on that. Happ’s worth has dropped, clearly.
AA go get him
Little surprised, not really outraged. Combine last year with this spring, and it’s probably not a bad idea to send him someplace he can get regular abs instead of a bench role.
It’s the right move. He needs to learn plate discipline. He could be a legit 20/20 guy but needs to learn what a strike is
If Theo truely believes in production over potential he would get rid of Hayward! Happ was rushed up and now he’s paying the price… he just needs to respond to the message!!!
Not a bad move, he’s definitely going to try and play his way back. Maybe he’ll figure that strike zone thing out.
More at bats usually helps with that, and he wasn’t going to play every day in the majors.
Trade him
Wow! This is crazy
Hey, Hey Rog. Guess what’s NOT HAPPenin’?
I could see the Cubs signing someone like Denard Span or Eric Young Jr. to cover center for a little bit until Happ can work out the kinks. If he doesn’t work them out, then I could foresee a more significant acquisition via the trade market. Perhaps someone like Starling Marte or Billy Hamilton.
Theo should give his pal Rick a call on the South Side and re-acquire Jon Jay. As a free agent signing, Jay would have to agree to a trade before June but I’m sure he’d do it to be on a contender and reunite with Albert Almora Jr., one one of his Miami amigos. He could leadoff for the Cubs versus tough RHP and be a nice 4th OF option off the bench.
Jay lost his primary value on the South Side when his pal Manny Machado chose the Padres over the White Sox in free agency. If the Cubs want to expand a potential trade maybe the White Sox could take Ian Happ off their hands and give the North Siders one of their veteran relievers to accompany Jay in a deal. I wouldn’t mind seeing Happ start in CF or RF in lieu of Adam Engel or Daniel Palka, at least until Luis Robert or another one of their other top OF prospects are ready for prime time.
I’d just assume the White Sox make a play for Happ rather than Joc Pedersen who was rumored to be a target of the front office earlier this offseason. Of course, it the Dodgers would be willing to part with Alex Verdugo that would be the optimal get for the White Sox in RF and in their future batting order.
If Moncada has really cut down on his K’s, then a trade for Happ is worth exploring (not “expand”). Otherwise, too many K’s.
But I would rather have AAJ.
I bet he is not Happ, Happ, Happy about this at all.
Hopefully this will allow Albert Almora Jr. to become the full time starter in CF, something that should have happened well before the Ian Happ demotion. Knowing the front office and the “genius” in the dugout, I’m guessing the Cubs will still be in the market for a left-handed platoon option to pair with Almora before opening day.
Spring training stats mean nothing, right?
I knew this was come one day, I’m not a scout but I can tell you high fastball with 2 strikes Happ would swing and miss for KO . Watching a ton of games last year , team will do this to get him chasing . Kinda like Beaz with sliders away , good thing Beaz adjusted last year .
Baez had Pedro Cerrano syndrome until he asked for Jobu to come. Maybe Happ needs Jobu to take fear from bats.
It’s a “what have you done for me lately” league. Bye bye Happ.
BUST.
Happ, Schwarber, Contreras, Soler, Almora, Bryant, Adisson… Bust, Bust, Bust, Bust, Bust and Bust.
Did you just call a league MVP a bust? I get that you don’t like the Cubs, but you lost all credibility there.
He look like an MVP now?
So your scale is either MVP-level or bust. I guess the entire league except 2 players each year are busts.
He was hurt last year
Yes, ’cause he never learned the fundamentals of sliding.
Go troll on somewhere else
Downvote
This is an NL team that plays your team like 6 times a year. Why they own so much real estate in your head?
You have to give Joe Madden credit for having the courage to tell a high visibility veteran that he’s out. Many years I watched veterans get beaten out during spring by a young unknown player only to see the veteran make the team over that young unknown. The best example was when newly traded Edgar Rentaria made the Tiger after a .039 spring batting average while others hitting +.400 were cut.
Renteria hit .234 during the spring… he ended up hitting .270 in the regular season. The only shortstop to better him in spring was Cale Iorg and he hit .250.
Happ has never proven to be anything but an average player at best with way too many K’s and an abysmal spring. This isn’t a shock and now maybe Almora gets the chance to play every day in CF as he deserves
Remember Mickey Mantle? In his first season, the Yankees sent him down to the minors after only a few months. He was devastated, too. And, nearly quit baseball. But, he pulled himself together and made it back to the Yankees before the season was over. He never looked back after that. I see a lot of Mickey Mantle potential in Ian. And frankly, I think Joe Madden and the Cubs did Ian a disservice by not sending him down last year. Looking forward to his return as a new ball player.
Ian is no Mickey
but Eloy is the real deal –
the next Babe Ruth!
WOW. The last couple of seasons, Cub fans thought Happ would be a centerpiece of any deal for a major trade. Yikes, a little reality setting in on the northside.
One of the things they were looking for from Happ this spring was to stop striking out on the pitch low and inside when he is batting from the left side. If you have been following him this spring, you would have seen that he is still chasing that pitch. I am a Happ fan and have stood up for him in the past, but this is the right move. A lot of guys have had great springs, and some of the really young guys like Nico Hoerner are really close to moving up as well. He will be back if he can figure things out in AAA.