The Cubs have kept one of the top impending free agents off the market. Chicago announced a three-year extension with outfielder Ian Happ covering the 2024-26 seasons. It’s reportedly a $61MM guarantee and contains a full no-trade clause. Happ receives a $3MM signing bonus, successive $20MM salaries in 2024-25, and an $18MM salary in 2026.
It’s a frankly surprising deal for the player, given Happ’s proximity to the open market. He was set to reach free agency this offseason and would’ve done so at a relatively young age, as the 2024 campaign will be just his age-29 season. Recent open-market deals for free-agent corner outfielders suggest that Happ had a strong case for a lengthier and more lucrative deal than the one he inked to remain in Chicago. Kyle Schwarber (four years, $79MM), Nick Castellanos (five years, $100MM) and Andrew Benintendi (five years, $75MM) all topped that mark within the past two offseasons alone. Michael Conforto received a $36MM guarantee and a conditional opt-out clause last offseason after not playing a single game in the preceding season.
Happ is younger than Schwarber and Castellanos were in free agency, healthier and younger than Conforto was, and has a superior offensive track record to Benintendi. Granted, he strikes out more often and hits for a lower average, but Happ also reaches base more frequently and has a good bit more power than Benintendi. Dating back to the 2019 season, he’s a .254/.341/.461 hitter with 66 home runs, 84 doubles, five triples, 22 stolen bases, a 10.9% walk rate and a 26% strikeout rate in 1608 trips to the plate.
By measure of wRC+, Happ has been 18% better than league-average over that span and 20% better than average in three of those four individual seasons. He’s substantially pared back his strikeout tendencies throughout his career, going from a sky-high 36.1% clip back in 2018 to a far more palatable 23.2% in 2022 (and 24.4% so far in 2023). Happ also enjoyed a career year with the glove in ’22, turning in a whopping 13 Defensive Runs Saved in left field. That netted him his first Gold Glove, and the overall strength of his 2022 performance sent him to his first All-Star Game last summer as well.
Beyond the recent contracts for fellow corner outfielders and Happ’s generally strong performance, the extension is surprising given the context of next winter’s free-agent class, which is set to be a decidedly pitcher-heavy group of names. After Rafael Devers and Manny Machado signed massive nine-figure extensions, Happ represented one of the best bats slated to reach the market, joining names like Teoscar Hernandez and Matt Chapman.
Happ’s contract certainly affords him a market-commensurate annual value for a player of this skill set, but it’s nonetheless a surprise to see him sign a short-term deal that delays his first trip to free agency until the completion of his age-31 season. Happ surely placed value on remaining with the only team he’s ever known, in the city he’s come to call home, and with the teammates he’s embraced as family. Ultimately, all contract extension of this nature are life-changing money that will set a player for generations, and even if the market was quite likely to bear a greater sum next winter, it’s easy enough to understand the allure from a pure human-interest standpoint.
From a team vantage point, the Cubs are surely thrilled to be able to retain a popular, productive core player without committing to a the lengthier market norms. Happ is the second member of the team’s core to delay his path to free agency with an atypically short deal, joining Nico Hoerner, whose recent three-year, $35MM contract extension bought out only one free-agent season. The Cubs are buying purely prime-aged years in both instances.
The Cubs already had about $127MM on the 2024 books, so Happ’s extension will likely push them to around $147MM in total commitments — assuming even distribution of salary over the three would-be free-agent years. The bulk of those commitments will come off the books the following season. In 2025-26, the Cubs will now have roughly $100MM committed to a quintet of players: Happ, Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Jameson Taillon and Seiya Suzuki. For a team that’s previously topped $200MM in player payroll and lays claim to one of the most lucrative revenue streams in the sport, that ought to leave plenty of room for additional supplementation of that core via the free-agent market, trade market or by extending additional homegrown players in the same manner as they’ve done with Hoerner and now Happ.
Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation was first to report the Cubs and Happ were in agreement on a three-year, $61MM extension. Joel Sherman of the New York Post was first to report the no-trade clause and the specific salary structure.
3 years 61 million. No options
Seems like a lot for a light hitting LF with one great year.
One pretty good year.
To quote Moe Howard- ” You know it was my idea, But I don’t think much of it”. Hoyer will be saying that for years.
I was intentionally liberal with the word, figuring if I had said ‘decent’ or ‘good’ people would feel the need to stand up the single season.
Wording aside, I agree with your sentiment.
He has plenty of power to hit 25 homeruns a year. He’ll also win at least 2 maybe 3 GG in the next 2-4 years. He was snubbed a few times.
Interesting take.
He’ll easily win 7 GG over the next 3-4 years
He’ll easily hit at least 35 maybe 42 home runs in the next 3 to 11 years. He was snubbed numerous times on the dingers.
“One great year”… which was last year. It’s called progression.
Dude’s been in the Majors since 2017. That’s pretty slow progression.
And one of those years was shortened by covid, so….
Are you still waiting for Corey Patterson’s MVP season so many Cubs fans thought he would have?
No. I’m waiting for Felix Pie.
When you don’t have logic on your side, go with hyperbole.
Wishful thinking isn’t logic. Try again.
Lick my hyperpole.
@Doug Dascenzo’s. Are you a Cubs fan?
Yes, for more than 40 years. You?
Yep, Also for more than 40 years. I just assumed with your Ian Happ dislike that you were a Cardinals or White Sox fan. Those people always seem to hate every Cubs player and its a little sad to see a fellow Cubs fan ragging on him knowing that the support you’re getting is from Cardinal and White Sox fans.
I don’t dislike Ian Happ. He’s just not a great player. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d rate him a 6. At best, he’s someone who should be batting #6 or #7 in the lineup, not #3. Extending him for three years does not significantly improve the Cubs. I think the money they’ll be paying him could be better spent elsewhere. However, if the Cubs shell out big bucks for truly elite free agents the next couple of years, some of their prospects actually pan out, and Happ continues to post OPS numbers around .800 or better, then I’ll probably come to like the contract more than I do now.. Since you’re also a long-term Cubs fan, you know that this team typically does not spend the money it takes to attract or keep superstars while overpaying for lesser talent (e.g. most of the free agents they brought on board this year).
Happ is a maddeningly inconsistent player. In his four full or near-full seasons (2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022), he’s had more hits than strikeouts only once. He finally did that last year, but 149 strikeouts is still way too many for only 17 home runs. In those four seasons, the .842 OPS he posted in 2017 remains his high-water mark. Based on that, one could make the argument that he has not progressed at all. Yes, his 2019 and 2020 statistics look good at first glance, but he did that in fewer than 60 games each time.
What I’m saying about Happ is not ragging on him at all. It’s an honest assessment supported by data. I want the Cubs to do well but also reserve the right to be critical when the team is run in such an underwhelming fashion. There is no good reason why they can’t be the Yankees of the Midwest, a team that rarely has to rebuild and doesn’t act as though extending a decent but unexceptional player is some kind of brilliant move. If a Cardinals or White Sox fan supports me just to be a troll, then that person needs to get a life.
Suggested reading from my favorite Cubs analyst:
pointlessexercise.substack.com/p/what-ian-happs-ex…
Progress before perfection! Don’t knock a guy for trying! He’ll be an all star, too. You can Jos A Bank that!
I don’t dislike Happ, but I certainly don’t love him. He’s a decent but not great player. His extension doesn’t significantly improve the Cubs unless he takes a big step forward and becomes an elite-level player. That might happen (no pun intended), but it’s definitely not something I would count on. Because of that, I’m not going to celebrate his contract like so many other Cubs fans are doing in this thread. As for the Cardinals and White Sox fans who support me, even broken clocks are right twice a day.
That’s because you have no foresight.
Happs gotten better every year, a guy who’s constantly working on and improving his game. A bit of an over-corrector but tends to over correct and then balance. He’s also in a very weak free agent class and is only signed for three seasons. 3/61 is perfect considering he was slated for at least a 5/80 with a repeat of last season and probably between the 5/80-7/140 range depending on this season (if his power bounces back along with the reduction of strikeouts).
You must like Happ’s coffee with extra hopium creamer.
Happs been better than most people give him credit for, especially now he has transitioned to left where he his defense is an asset vs a detriment.
Happs always posted a solid offensive WAR, his defense has been graded below par because he isn’t a center fielder, which has effected his overall WAR value.
Happ is an offensively above average player who failed as a second baseman and center fielder before being moved to left field because there was nowhere else to put him. Extending him for three years isn’t a terrible move, but it’s nothing to get excited about.
The only thing not to get excited about is your failed attempts at talking trash about the Happ extension.
You seem pretty excited to keep replying to my comments.
That’s about your 10th reply to comments on here. You seem to be the excited one.
I’m always excited.
So in other words, he’s not great at being good, but he’s gooder at being mediocre. Kinda a poor man’s Nissan Sentra, better than the bus, affectively
Ian Happ, the Frontier Airlines of OFs, get ya from point A to point B safely, as long as you’re okay going without water or peanuts for long stretches
His ops+ has been above average every year. Not a “great” player, but a consistent player. Funny, commenters complain he got too much, writer complaining via comparative analysis he didn’t get enough.
Cubs wanted to pay it, he wanted to accept it, done deal.
Fair market value = when everyone goes ‘meh’. Value sized generic peanuts at Aldi that you can take with you on your next Frontier Airlines excursion to Akron
Ops+ of 100 is average. Happs been better than average in every season and 3/4 seasons posted an ops+ of 120 or better.
I think it’s a fair deal but it’s pretty sad when a bit above average costs $20MM per year. Can I get a bit above average seat at the ballpark for $20?
Cubs’ fan here.
My take, paid market price, not too high, not too low.
Ok deal for all. Pay a little more per year, but have fewer years
I hate the cubs I’m a brewers fan…. But this is a great deal your only into it for 3 years if it goes south your out fast if it holds you come out great
The Happ contract is “better” than the one your team gave to Christian Yelich. So there’s that.
His 2020 season translates to 3.8 rWAR (and 5.4 fWAR !!).
Happ’s a solid and projectable 2.5-3.0 WAR LFer with a bit of positional flexibility, coming off a Gold Glove season.
3/$61m is an interesting compromise: The Cubs don’t get saddled w the 4th or 5th year of a Castty or Schwarber deal, while Happ, who wasn’t all that good in 2019 and 2021, avoids having to go through pillow contract agonies (and a career total of $15m from 2024 on out) if this is a collapse year while forgoing comparative riches if he puts up another 4 WAR season.
The player gets solid compensation on the baseball scale while not shooting for the moon, while the Cubs don’t tie themselves to $20m they don’t want to be punting in 2027 and possibly 2028 if Happ puts up a 2.5 win 2023.
Sorry, guys, but I’m done scrolling through and deleting the half dozen copies of my comments b/c for the past year-plus mlbtr’s software guys can’t be bothered to find a line of code.
Unless those comments are so brilliant, mlbtr feels those repeats are earned…
That’s it!
Happ’s numbers from 2020 were a lot like the Cubs in general during that “season.” He and Jason Heyward (remember him?) got off to hot starts during the 13-3 opening stretch, and then they fell off considerably. I’m not saying that statistics from 2020 should be discounted entirely, but they also shouldn’t be taken as seriously as those from a proper 162-game season.
He only played 56 games in 2019 and was great in those 56 games.
He was bad most of the year in 2021, then turned it on and was player of the month in August and September/October with several player of the week awards in that time frame.
I keep getting server errors even though it posts. And then another post will wind up somewhere else. And now it’s crept into the football site. Tech needs to be fixed and a new coat of paint perhaps. But who am I to complain. It’s all free.
Happ played in only 56 games in 2019 because he spent much of the season in the minor leagues. He was great during the last two months of the 2021 season when the games were meaningless. I don’t think these facts supports drascoo36’s argument as much as he thinks they do.
Be careful you don’t knock Happ too much. Or Drascoo will call you an internet bully and mute you so you can’t reply to him , But then bash everyone of your posts like a little schoolgirl. He must of been the guy who got bullied in school and ran inside thinking he was safe but then later realized he had to go home sometime. He’s Happ’s biggest fan Doug.
To be fair, Happ is making his contract extension look good so far, but we’re not even a month into the 2023 season. We’ll see how it plays out over the long haul. I’m not rooting against Happ, but I still think there were better options out there for the Cubs. It’s kind of ridiculous how disagreements over personnel decisions can quickly become personal on here. drascoo36 is gonna drascoo36, I guess. Anyway, the Cubs are off to a nice start, but I’ve seen way too many June swoons to get my hopes up. Yet.
True. Still trying to figure out if Happ makes the Cubs better than the guys behind him for the next 3 years. I think Happ has been an average player and the guys he’s now blocking have way higher ceilings. I don’t hate him either, but now he’s in the way. To trade him now they’re probably have to eat some of it which isn’t a good option. Also trying to figure out how a guy who’s muted me still replies to my posts but I suspect like a lot of guys on this site he has more than one identity. Probably several. Every time I say the Cubs should get rid of anybody they start going off so my ego is a bit bruised right now. All of the sudden Merryweather looks good. The Cubs need to get Estrada up here soon because Fulmer is not a closer, Estrada had 4 scoreless appearances and a 7-0 K/w ratio and needs a shot. Fulmer and Boxberger aren’t closers and they can’t wait for Heuer and then toss him to the wolves. That might be bad.
Just saw they brought up Estrada. At least that’s something I wanted.
It will be interesting to see how Estrada’s stuff plays in the Majors, but I’m happy to see that the Cubs brought him up. Yes, Fulmer has looked terrible so far. In my opinion, walking Heyward was worse than the grand slam he gave up to Outman in last night’s game. I don’t want to see Fulmer in a high-leverage situation again anytime soon. Boxberger is fine as a setup guy who comes in during the 7th inning but nothing more. Given Ross’s preferential treatment for veterans, though, I don’t see him giving the closer’s role to Estrada even if he hits the ground floor running. Unfortunately, it will probably be a bullpen-by-committee for much of this season unless the Cubs swing a trade for a legit 9th-inning dude, which I don’t see happening at this point. But who knows? So far, the Cubs are definitely exceeding my expectations. That’s about the only thing I’m okay with being wrong about.
Wisdom is another guy who’s defying my expectations. I always said it was too bad he couldn’t hit the ball more often because when he puts his bat on it it goes. He does everything else so well that I thought it was sad he struck out all the time but now he seems to have figured that out. Competition for your job seems to have done wonders for some guys. With Estrada it’s more his makeup that I like. Things don’t bother him. Closer is more mental than anything else, You can’t let small stuff bother you. Fulmer wears his emotions on his sleeve.
Yeah, Wisdom is definitely making me eat some crow right now after I’d previously put forth the opinion that he shouldn’t be a starting player on a team with playoff aspirations. I mean, nine home runs so far…wow. It looks like he has made some kind of major adjustment and pitchers haven’t yet figured out how to respond. That said, Wisdom is still exhibiting the same contact problems that have always plagued him, striking out in approximately one-third of his plate appearances. And on top of that, he hardly ever takes a walk. I’m very skeptical that he’ll be able to maintain an OPS above 1.000 (let alone .800) over a full season with that kind of approach. But maybe he’s just one of those guys who finally puts it all together in his early 30s and can find a way to stay productive even with all those whiffs. I like Wisdom’s defense at third and his ability to play other positions as well. I get a bit frustrated with David Ross in games when he plays Wisdom at DH and Madrigal at third. (On a related note, putting Mancini at first base while playing Hosmer at DH is equally dumb.)
Estrada’s command looked a little shaky yesterday, but if he can harness his stuff, there’s a lot of upside there. I totally agree about the mental toughness component of being a good closer. While not a data-driven assessment, Fulmer just does not seem to radiate much confidence when he takes the mound. Definitely not a good trait for success in the ninth inning.
Much of his value seems predicated on ops+ and defensive runs saved, two measures resting on debatable premises and which few fans could calculate on their own.
(Poker player exclamation) “One time!”
Decent contract, short term so really nothing to complain about with the AAV
And in a spot of GOOD news Cade Horton makes his debut tonight. Go Myrtle Beach.
Not the best allocation of financial resources, but I’m sure a lot of Cubs fans will disagree with me.
That said, at least it’s a pretty short-term deal.
Paying higher AAV for shorter term, so pretty much Cubs get his peak prime season until age 32.
Cubs get to move on when Happ potentially starts declining.
“Peak prime” Ian Happ doesn’t sound very exciting.
3 years for Happ’s 29-31 y.o. seasons at $20.33MM seems like a pretty good Cubs deal. I think Happ left plenty of money on the table by not gambling on being a FA.
The production drop-off between Happ and a guy that would cost $11mil in free agency next year is insignificant.
Kayrall, when you become gm of a team, you can prove how dumb all these other gm’s are. Can’t wait.
@Kayrall By that logic, perhaps the Cubs would’ve been wiser to not even tender Happ a contract this year as he’s making almost $11MM.
True to leaving money on the table because he wanted to stay a Cub. The Cubs are experiencing a lot of love from the MLB players. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ohtani signs with the Cubs.
Not best allocation of time reading your comments. SMH
And yet you read them.
Please don’t remind of my error. It saddens me.
No no… leave him be.
I do agree with you, especially with the OF depth that will be joining the Cubs in the next two seasons but Michael Cerami is right when he said (a few weeks ago on Twitter) “you can’t have enough good players.”
surprised that it only took 3 years to get it done. I figured he was in line for a 4 or 5 year deal (at a AAV closer 15ish a year) after last off-season’s crazy spending depending on how this year went for him.
Great job cubs . Happ has become a very good player. Still room in center for PCA and hopefully Alcantara and Caissie take over in a couple years. Not sure what this means for Brennen Davis. He seems like the odd man out.
I’m surprised Jed Hoyer had extension talks during tbe season. He hadn’t had a single extension signed since he came to the cobs. He has two this year alone. Within 3 weeks into the season. He had gone on record that he doesn’t like having extension talks during the season.
I understand why Hoyer got this deal done “in season”. This is a great deal for the Cubs. Only 3 years at reasonable money for a 120 OPS outfielder with a gold glove as well. Happ must really love Chicago to agree to this deal. If he was a Boras client, it would have taken a 7-8 year deal to win his services. Glad to see every player is not looking to max out on their contract value. This obviously worked for Happ, otherwise he wouldn’t have signed it. If he has 3 above average years, he could get another 3-4 year deal once this one expires too.
Solid move. Doesn’t handcuff the team in any way. Looking ahead to next winter it’s pretty much Ohtani and…? Its going to be a boring winter
Not if the RS are in Ohtani’s bidding.
Ohtani is staying on the west coast. Dodgers, Angels, Seattle, and not in that order, just saying those three are where he’ll be starting next season.
Ok. I’m only poking at @Rsox and don’t expect his team to be in the bidding.
You forgot Padres kellin.
You seem to be the guy with the least amount of knowledge on the board. But you type a lot.
Since when was knowledge a requisite on these boards?
Correct, Creatch!!
I didn’t say it was requisite, I said he has the least.
I don’t expect them to be in the bidding either.
It’s a steep decline after Ohtani. Julio Urias, Aaron Nola, Lucas Giolito and Matt Chapman are basically the headliners follow Shohei
@Jon M
They came to mind, but I think they might have already priced themselves out of the bidding with their current payroll. Who knows, maybe Seidler doesn’t care about luxury tax issues like Cohen apparently doesn’t..
They won’t be offering an extension to Soto, they’re going to save that money for Ohtani. I believe it’s also why the Padres have been extending everyone else, to prove to him that there will be a formidable team around him for a long time. But I am a Mariners guy, so in my homer mind I hope we get him of course.
This sucks. So corner OF blocked for 4 and 5 years. I don’t get it but whatever. So now what do you do with the kids? Trade em for what?
Trade them for a 1B and 3B . We need both. Starting pitching. A closer. This team needs a lot to be competing for a title.
A 1b. A 3b. A catcher. A pitcher. Starting and possibly a closer. Some bench players. Just a few holes but really close to contending for the Central.
Closer than the White Sox. Is that saying much?
That’s really interesting… I like reading stuff from people commenting on a team they obviously know little about.
Yes, please don’t post your opinion in the MLBTR comment section unless you’re an expert like Chris.
DH is always a possibility for others as well. Also, who knows how the prospects may actually pan out. Brennen Davis is certainly not the “sure thing” we thought he might be. PCA is in AA and could end up being a glove first player. Kevin Alcantara is still a ways away. Canario is hurt and who knows what may happen when he returns / how much time he will need.
It’s hard not to bet on a proven commodity because it would be surprising for one of the Cubs various outfield prospects to end up being as good as Happ currently is. Sure, one could end up being better, but we have seen so many prospects fizzle or be league average.
Nothing wrong have a surplus of prospects, it will all work itself out.
I think Davis is odd man out – trade him for SP or a C. Crow is starting CF next yr – Happ can always move to 1B ( platoon with Mervis) or semi- utility player..some 2B, all 3 OF spots and in a pinch both infield corners. Always injuries so there will always be spots. Slight overpay but only if he digresses a bit. If he maintains last yrs #’s its a good deal for cubs…good solid player just not a superstar.
20 million dollar platoon player? Really?
Platoon in the sense of playing 1B – he’ll play everyday – plus none of the kids are ready for OF this year – so 2024 – Happ will be fulltime LF if he is uprooted by a prospect in ’25 then he can platoon at 1B and when not at 1B there is corner OF, a little CF ( depending on park) and in an emergency 3B or 2B. Plus DH. There is a way to get him 150 games without blocking the OF prospects in ’25 or ’26 ( guess I didn’t need the rambling to make that point – my bad lol)
Poor man’s Larry Garcia
Hopefully Platoon in the sense of playing 1b. And not Platoon in the sense of shooting Charlie’s role model daddy in the back in a theatric manner while returning from patrol.
What kids are really blocked though? PCA will play CF, but Davis hasn’t hit since 2021 and Alcantara is in High-A.
Yes. Trade them to the Yankees for Donaldson, Hicks and cash considerations. Soon!
Overpaid just like Nimmo, except Nimmo’s contract is worse
But Nimmo is a better player than Happ. His value is higher because he plays CF too..
It’s honestly an underpay for Happ. Nimmo got about 80mil more than he’s actually worth.
At least they’re finally done with Addison Russell’s sorry ass.
Brave.
That always confused me how his career was ended because of that and he never even faced a formal criminal charge, but we have guys still playing in the league who were literally charged with the same thing he was accused of.
Addison Russell’s career was not ended because he had a domestic abuse charge, his career ended because he wasn’t any good anymore. The guy has been playing international ball and still cannot hit.
Brennan Davis not happy, will he be asking for a trade from Iowa?
He’s a minor league player. He has zero leverage to ask for a trade.
Davis needs to start hitting his weight, before he can complain about being blocked.
Just ran into Ian at Dunkin on Ashland . I was waiting on an ice coffee with Carmel chocolate creamer. I placed an order for a medium and he interjected and said make it a large on me! I was stunned and could barely say thank you and he was out the door . What a hell of a guy
Well, he just got $61M, so…
That’s still a cool-dude move.
I wish I could just randomly do that anytime I wanted.
Are you enjoying these larps?
And then everyone clapped
Geez I hope they don’t give Hosmer an extension. I’d hurl. Iowa will be the best team in the Minors now for years. Mervis is the future. Hopefully in May.
I know you are joking Uncle, but Hosmer is under contract through 2025. If they extended him into 26 and beyond I’d hurl with you.
Hosmer is only signed for this year. no idea where you got that. He might get paid by somebody til 2025 but it won’t be the Cubs. The Padres and Red Sox are on the hook or whatever else he gets.
How does Happ signing affect Mervis future? You are just an old, belligerent human.
The cobwebs in your head must be immense. Where did I say Happ’s contract affects Mervis in any way? Time for some electro shock dudesicle?
Ah yes, using “old” in the pejorative. Classy.
Some day you might be old. Hopefully the following generation is a bit more kind to you. And then you’ll realize, maybe you should have shown more respect.
Honestly the cubs have a terrible strategy. They’re trying to build a whole team from free agency and overpaying for many guys.
Who have they overpaid recently? Jason Heyward is the only one that comes to mind. Hoerner and Happ took team friendly deals. Swanson was an bargain tbh.
Swanson was kind of a lot to honest for one season of above average hitting. Taillon was also kind of a lot. Hoerner too as it’s basically guaranteeing him over 20 million for his first free agency year.
Hoerner was underpaid. He took a huge team discount
Swanson looks like the real deal. Hitting bullets everywhere and his defense has been impressive. I love this extension. Most of these young guys take multiple years to develop. There are very few Julio Rodriguez type players out there. Happ really had his breakout last year after showing glimpses for 4 years. I’d take prime Happ over whatever Brennen Davis might give you.
How is hoerner heavily underpaid for him to worth 23 million in his free agency year which is what the contract values him at he needs to improve still. You really think he’s gonna be worth like 30 million for a year?
Hoerner isn’t making $20 M in his final year. The breakdown is $11.5 M in 2024, $11.5 M in 2025, $12 M in 2026 ($36 M for 3 years).
If he didn’t sign the extension he wouldn’t be making 11.5 each the next 2 years. So sure money is spread but 36-(whatever he’d make through arb the next 2 years) is like 23 million.
You’re literally on a thread about them signing a guy to an extension from their farm system and talking about how they are trying to build a team from free agency. Bellinger is a spot holder, Hosmer – spot holder, Barnhart – spot holder, LOL.
They need some core/pre-arb guys to come up and contribute, and they don’t have many close right now besides Mervis who is not even a big name. The Happ contract isn’t buying out arb years so essentially it’s the same as a free agency contract.
They just had Velasquez come up and do very well. Within the next year or two they may have PCA, Davis, Candelario, Mervis, Caissie, Alcantara, and several possible pitching prospects… Happ is homegrown talent, nothing free agent about that.
The Cubs are paying a bit more on aavs for shorter term contracts. I think it’s the Padres who have a terrible strategy, paying guys into their late late 30s and early 40s just to save a couple million in aav. I guess time will tell.
Side note, the Cubs should be trying to lock up Steele to a deal like this. The guys been the best pitcher in the league since the all star break last year and is still flying under the radar.
All of you guys saying that this deal sucks for the Cubs are idiots. Ian Happ is an excellent ball player, has versatility, great on base skills, switch hits and now will become one of the de facto leaders in the clubhouse. He’s coming off an all-star selection, and carries a brand new glove with gold on it. He definitely left money on the table to stay with the Cubs. 20, million AAV for his prime years represents really good value for the Cubs. He’s also a really cool dude and if you need proof you should listen to his podcast, called the compound.
Ian is this you?
There is a book with an audio version called The Compound.
So many bad takes…
Hoyer must of gotten TOTALLY drunk and giddy after that game last night. I mean plowed.
Maybe your the one that needs to get plowed – common sense might come easier to you.
What’s fascinating is just how far inside your head I am? Are you a MLB stalker or something? LMAO
LOL, Bryant GONE, Rizzo GONE, Baez GONE, Schwarber GONE everyone who got you your first championship in 100+ years GONE… but you keep IAN HAPP?!
Only Rizzo and Baez were ever offered an extension. Happ is worth it.
The only one of those players that would be better than what we have is Bryant, but he can’t stay healthy. I’ll take Happ over Schwarber.
Lol Schwarber has absolutely crushed the ball since leaving. I really don’t understand the Schwarber hate, he had one bad “year”–covid year–and was simply non-tendered! Yeah, great call. They couldn’t have used him in any of those seasons. Boston and Philly thank you.
Taking Happ over Schwarber isn’t hate in any way at all. You just assume things incorrectly. Happ is a much better fielder and therefore is a better overall player.
The only hate anybody ever had for Schwarber was that he was a DH in a League that didn’t have a DH. Ironically after the Cubs figured that out and let him walk the NL came in with the DH. More good timing for the Cubs. Schwarber is what he is, a hitter plain and simple. Do I wish he was still here? Yeah
Happ is also smaller than Schwarber so you save at the spread and in basic economy. All adds up
Love this. He wants to be a cub and he knows we are bout to be contending in the next few years. He can always sign another multi year deal after his age 32 season.
I like the signing. The Cubs are spending money and I think they will at least win their division. Thing is , very few teams have a chance to win a WS now-a-days because every top team is trying to by rings now, at any cost. Sad. Baseball needs a salary cap.
They don’t look like a division winner to me. Their lineup will, of the course of the year, be entirely dependent on Suzuki, Mancini, Hosmer, and Bellinger. None of those guys are a sure thing. Their rotation is similar. Not saying it’s impossible, but I think it’s more likely that they finish 3rd behind St. Louis and Milwaukee (both flawed, but better teams, than Chicago).
What? Their lineup will be dependent on basically half the team? LOL… OK. But you failed to mention Happ and Hoerner who are pretty decent hitters.
That’s not the point of my post, dude. The point is that half of their lineup, it’s core, consists of guys who are severely unproved or have sucked for the past 2-3 years.
Geez think the writer would have preferred he got 5-6 years and 70 million lol, 20+ million per year is a good deal for Happ. If he does well he might get another 3/60 deal or more after that, besides I bet when he was 19 he dreamed of making 20 million a year. Salaries are so ridiculous, does it really even matter after 20-30 million? He should be set for life, everything else just adds undue pressure to his life
I don’t personally care what Happ does, and as I have written above, it’s an easy enough decision to understand from a human-interest standpoint. Happ’s staying with the only team he’s known, with teammates he likes, in a city he’s come to call home.
It’s still an objectively light contract. Suggesting $70MM over 5-6 years undersells Happ’s earning power. The Benintendi contract feels like his floor, and we’re kicking around our early Free Agent Power Rankings right now and had Happ penciled in north of $100MM given his age, track record, improved defense, reduced strikeouts, etc.
Good on him for getting paid and for finding a deal to stay in a spot he enjoys. Doesn’t change the fact that it’s a surprisingly light deal.
Light deal to some of you, not the rest of us. It’s not a “fact”…maybe see what happens in a few years before making yr claim that this is some type of absolute truth?
Don’t mind them Steve. They were abused children, And abused adults also? At least Happ now has the means to get some more Gold Gloves as all it takes is money to buy off the selection crew. You get those the same way you get a Star on the Hollywood walk of fame. You buy one. This is just a confusing deal for both sides to me. Then I found out today that the Cubs are partners in his Coffee business. So there’s that. They all seem happy-For now at least.
You are ‘sick’.
Funny, I feel fine. But thanks for your concern.
Baseball writers have a notoriously leftist mentality when it comes to money in baseball. They somehow seem to exclude the multimillionaire players from the bourgeoisie and see it as some sort of cosmic victory for the multimillionaire players to get more millions rather than business owners and investment firms who own baseball teams. In their minds, the richer you are, the worse you are, unless you’re a ball player in which case it’s better for you to keep getting richer.
No mention of the QO? This is a pretty good player who had a lot to risk by entering FA with the QO tag. If he doesn’t take this deal, he accepts a QO and has to stay healthy for another 11 months of MLB regular season through 24, to then hit the open market at 30 as a good but not star level player. He’ll reach FA young enough for one more multiyear contract. Makes sense.
I’m honestly surprised but I guess the young guys are going to be used as trade chips for other pieces that are needed, a closer for example.
With a no trade clause? Ridiculous
Nice contract for Happ. Gives the team some outfield stability. Bellinger likely a one and done for the Cubs. Suzuki is still unproven. Hopefully he comes back and remains healthy so we can see what he can do. Lots of minor league prospects in the pipeline PC Armstrong, Davis, Alcántara, Canario, Caissie . Some may be at least 2 years away while others have seen some injuries that set them back..
Last night’s game and this team friendly extension shows there is something magical happening on the North Side
$20 mil for a 250 hitter is a bit much.
1987 called and wanted to get your analytics take on batting average and how it relates to player salary and value
Point at Pete…
*The 1800s
.350 > .320 > .280 > .250.
More is more better.
Less is less better, or more worse.
I’m honestly surprised alot of Cubs fans are so unhappy with this deal..
I’d love for the Braves to have Happ in LF, and really wanted him when it was reported that Chicago was fielding offers on him.
It’s certainly cheaper than he would have cost had he hit free agency, and the Cubs got him for only three years.
If I were a Cubs fan I’d be ecstatic about this deal. Plus, he might have a no trade clause now, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be traded
Not sure he’d beat that AAV on the open market, but he might have inked at least a five year deal. A good trade off at this stage to lock in $61MM and he can still be a free agent at 32.
Nice AAV for Happ to get as a LF, but it’s surprising he didn’t hold out for 5yrs (or 4 w/decent buyout) given how FA $ were flowing so freely last offseason. So much dead money on diminished return contracts in general, it’s refreshing to not see someone’s deal look like that outcome when first announced.
He’ll hit free agency at 32, not the worst age. If he’d signed a 4-5 year extension, it’d be a bit tougher to get another multiyear contract at 33 or 34.
He’s a keeper unlike Contreras who they happily let walk and is hitting .206 with zero HRs and one measly extra base hit.
Fair extension.
Well, at least they retained someone, not really theor style but whatever…
Cubs did a good thing and that comes from someone hoping his home games would be in the ballpark where he hits best.
Cardinals fan here. I feel like this is a really good signing for the Cubs.
Good Move.
It would be a shame if the Cubs were HAPPless !!
I don’t get it
I don’t understand why there is always a comparison to recently signed contracts and then some sort of statement on how one “could have done better” or “outdid” the previously signed contracts. Comparing Happ to Schwarber or Castellanos is irresponsible. Benintendi may be a better comp, but to say that Benintendi outdid Happ with a better contract is just twisting the truth. Yes, $75 million is more than $61. But a $20 mil AAV is way more than a $15 mil AAV. Should Happ have signed a 10 year/$80 million contract just to “top” the other contracts? No way. We’d all be saying that he left money on the table.
Nice signing by the Cubs. He is a 3.4 bWAR/650 PAs over the past three years, while only missing 26 games. And the age range of 29-31 is very favorable.
This is a really weird but smart deal. It’s highly unusual in length and structure, but it’s still a healthy market value AAV. He gives up two years of free agency, right? That’s so odd… why wasn’t this at least 4 or 5 years?
He must have a strong belief in his ability to play better than the contract value while the cubs must be over the moon he will walk away right when his declining years start, for another team to pay for those or they’ll get what they’d consider a discount?
Like a successful 3 years/$61M leads to another successful 2 years/$39M or 3 years/$49M and they still get a decent discount and if the first 3 years don’t work out they don’t re-up and we’re really only out 1-2 years of premium salary costs?
And either way Happ gets $61M now and will likely set himself up for another 2-4 years of $19M AAV salaries or better, on top of this deal.
Smart for them. Smart for him. Interesting but shrewd approach by both sides.
That’s a pretty good payout for him. I would’ve expected ~$15M per for 2-4 years. But if an overpay in my opinion. Certainly has potential, but he’s getting to that age where it needs to be seen sooner rather than later.
A 60-million-dollar bird in the hand would be tough to turn down. You are risking injuries and slumps and other stuff if you wait. He’ll still be young enough to get another nice deal if he’s deserving.
This is why Ohtani is going to get a franchise damaging contract after this season. I want him to stay in Anaheim, but I’m tired of the Angels not contending due to ridiculous contracts and unwillingness to pay the tax. Which I don’t blame them for at all.
Ohtani is going to bust $500M.
…as a Padre.
“I’m tired of the Angels not contending due to ridiculous contracts and unwillingness to pay the tax. Which I don’t blame them for at all.”
That reads like a steaming pile of shear contradiction.
This reminds me of when certain Yankee fans would fire figurative bb’s at CC, Didi and EE’s parrot.
The fact so many people disagree likely means it was a fair deal. He is one of their better hitters and thy need to buy some time until others arrive. It aligns with their strong defense. I just like it was only for three years, although two would have been better.