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Cubs Activate Ian Happ, Option Moises Ballesteros

By Anthony Franco | May 20, 2025 at 2:35pm CDT

2:35pm: The Cubs have announced the Happ/Ballesteros swap as well as Hodge landing on the IL. Right-hander Ethan Roberts has been recalled as the corresponding move for Hodge.

10:28am: The Cubs are welcoming Ian Happ back from the injured list for tonight’s game in Miami, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer tells the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score. Rookie Moisés Ballesteros will be optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

That’s not the only forthcoming roster move. Manager Craig Counsell told Maddie Lee of The Chicago Sun-Times last night that Porter Hodge is heading to the 15-day IL with a left oblique injury. They could recall someone from Triple-A this afternoon to take Hodge’s bullpen spot, though it’s possible they’ll activate Ryan Brasier from his own IL stint instead.

The Happ/Ballesteros swap is a reversal of last week’s roster move. Chicago placed the veteran outfielder on the 10-day IL, retroactive to May 10, with a left oblique strain. That was evidently very mild, as he’s back after a minimal stint despite the tendency for many oblique strains to linger for weeks. Ballesteros was called up for the first time. Hoyer said this morning that Ballesteros was aware at the time that it’d be a brief promotion no matter how well he played, as the Cubs always intended to send him back down once Happ returned from what they expected to be a minimal IL stint.

Ballesteros, 21, was raking at .368/.420/.522 clip over 34 games in Iowa. He’s a career .288/.371/.459 minor league hitter despite consistently being one of the youngest players at each level at which he’s appeared. He didn’t produce much in his first look at MLB pitching, going 3-16 with a pair of walks over five games. He hit a run-scoring single off the White Sox’s Yoendrys Gómez for his first big league hit on Friday and had his first multi-hit effort in last night’s loss to the Marlins.

The Cubs used Ballesteros strictly as a designated hitter over the past week. He’s a polished offensive player but needs to continue developing as a catcher in Iowa. Happ’s return to the lineup will push Seiya Suzuki back to DH from left field. Happ will presumably slot back at the top of the batting order. He’s hitting .269/.364/.381 through 187 plate appearances.

Hodge, 24, has been Counsell’s most frequent choice in high-leverage situations. He has allowed a 5.12 ERA through 19 1/3 innings. His 22.6% strikeout rate is way down from last year’s excellent 31.7% mark. It’s not especially strong production overall, though the lackluster ERA is mostly attributable to one six-run blowup at the hands of the Diamondbacks a month ago. He has allowed three earned runs in 9 2/3 frames since that appearance, albeit with six strikeouts and walks apiece.

Ryan Pressly entered the season as the Cubs closer. He has not pitched well and has not recorded a save since April 13. Hodge had been leading something of a committee approach to the ninth inning. Daniel Palencia has stepped up as one of Counsell’s more trusted late-game arms. The Cubs called on him for what would’ve been his first save of the season last night. He entered the ninth inning with a 7-6 lead and quickly recorded the first two outs before allowing a double, a walk, and a two-run walk-off triple to Jesús Sánchez.

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Chicago Cubs Ethan Roberts Ian Happ Moises Ballesteros Porter Hodge

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View Comments (55)
Post a Comment

55 Comments

  1. Alan53

    4 weeks ago

    Let’s hope Happ is fully healed. The Cubs need him at his best for the upcoming stretch, especially against the Reds.

    1
    Reply
  2. jhanley108

    4 weeks ago

    Trade Happ for pitching and if they really believe in the farm system, let some of them play. But they can’t because they gave a mediocre 1st rd pick a giant extension, gold glove or not he’s very replaceable.

    1
    Reply
    • tonyinsingapore

      4 weeks ago

      Reds have Starting Pitching depth; and Happ is a Univ Cincy guy…

      1
      Reply
    • ryrockak

      4 weeks ago

      Happ also has a no trade clause and loves playing for the Cubs

      15
      Reply
    • Phree4u

      4 weeks ago

      Happs contract is extremely reasonable for his skill set.

      I wouldn’t trade him, I would trade from the farm depth before I traded proven regulars.

      13
      Reply
    • Dogbone

      4 weeks ago

      Hey hanley:
      What’s your advice for your Chisox? I think they need your ‘insight’ more than the Cubs F O ever would.

      8
      Reply
      • jhanley108

        4 weeks ago

        Yea, I know because you watch baseball on TV and never played competitively.

        Reply
        • Hammerin' Hank

          4 weeks ago

          There are plenty of guys who played baseball competitively and who don’t have a clue when it comes to analyzing baseball. John Smoltz, for one.

          3
          Reply
        • Bucket Number Six

          4 weeks ago

          Tell us which player will replace Happ and his usual 3.5 to 4 WAR, Hanley.

          6
          Reply
        • rondon

          4 weeks ago

          He can’t.

          3
          Reply
        • Bucket Number Six

          4 weeks ago

          Since he wants everyone to know he played competitively, here’s Hanley’s stats:

          baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=han…

          Not a bad hitter.

          1
          Reply
    • Alan53

      4 weeks ago

      Well, he has a NTC in any case, and he also has somehow become the face of the team in recent years (he is a bit of a self-promoter). And they don’t really believe in the aging “kids” in the farm system, I don’t think.

      Reply
      • LetTheGoodTimesROFL

        4 weeks ago

        I bet if you asked a random set of people to name one player from the Cubs you would get more Tuckers, PCAs, Swansons, and Imanagas than Happs. Not sure what makes him a self promoter… he has a podcast?

        Reply
    • Logjammer D'Baggagecling

      4 weeks ago

      Happ has some Dexter Morgan levels of dirt on Jed. Which is why he got a full no trade clause. Any trade involving him he would have to approve and he’s not gonna do that.

      1
      Reply
  3. Bruce wulff

    4 weeks ago

    Even with the happ return, hopefully the cubs learned lesson that they need an additional outfielder in addition to a bullpen arm and a starter. Can u imagine this team with 2 outfielders going down leaving brujan to be that outfielder?

    Reply
    • Phree4u

      4 weeks ago

      Cubs have outfielders in AAA that can come up to full in if needed.

      They need regular playing time and aren’t bench pieces, that’s why you end with guys like brujan on your roster

      8
      Reply
      • Alan53

        4 weeks ago

        I’ve never really bought this “need regular playing time” stuff. If they were good enough, they’d be up. ONKC and Alcantara, for example, have had plenty of playing time in the minors; the trouble is, they’ve spent too much of it striking out.

        Reply
        • Cmurphy

          4 weeks ago

          When you come up to the major league level, you need to adjust to the velocity and you can’t do that if you don’t regularly see major league pitching. So the result is usually striking out.

          1
          Reply
        • Alan53

          4 weeks ago

          True. I took Phree’s comment to mean they need more minor-league reps. Sorry if I missed the point.

          Reply
    • Alan53

      4 weeks ago

      Yes, it is odd that the Cubs are apparently planning to play the whole season without a backup CF.

      Reply
      • Robert-5

        4 weeks ago

        Unfortunately, Brujan IS our backup CF. If PCA was out for any length of time, I’d guess they call Alcantara back up.

        2
        Reply
    • JoeBrady

      4 weeks ago

      Bruce wulff
      Can u imagine this team with 2 outfielders going down
      ===========================
      That’s not how BB works. They already have 4 outfielders that would start with every team in BB. You don’t add multiple replacements for fear of injury.

      Reply
  4. Yankee Clipper

    4 weeks ago

    How can they option Moises after he parted the sea?! Unacceptable Chicago!

    6
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      4 weeks ago

      With rising sea levels, he’s gotta keep training back down at sea-parting camp to stay sharp.

      4
      Reply
      • Robert-5

        4 weeks ago

        Rising sea levels…
        New York is almost fully submerged by the Atlantic!!

        1
        Reply
    • Aaron Sapoznik

      4 weeks ago

      Unfortunately, Moises won’t have have an opportunity to part the “Red” sea in Cincinnati this weekend. 🙂

      3
      Reply
      • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

        4 weeks ago

        I wonder if Moises borrowed the Mariners golden trident to part the Red Sea or if he used somebody’s torpedo bat.

        Reply
  5. Dumpster Divin Theo

    4 weeks ago

    Ian nice guy makes dinger dollar coffee to promote social causes. Sure he gets choked up sometimes but who doesn’t love a good cry.

    4
    Reply
    • ncaachampillini

      4 weeks ago

      Don’t you have a bunch of .180 and .190 hitters to worry about on your own team?

      7
      Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      4 weeks ago

      Sounds like Happ is super in-touch with his own feels.

      1
      Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      4 weeks ago

      Hey Five-N’Divin’ Theo,,,,are we going to be able to get this Chi Sox/Sea game in the books? Does the weather appear excessively ominous ?,

      1
      Reply
      • Dumpster Divin Theo

        4 weeks ago

        You got some action on the game? Chuck and Ozzie are scanning the forecast as we speak. And it’s been downpouring once every 40 minutes all afternoon. Oh the tarp is off!

        2
        Reply
        • Strunk Flugget

          4 weeks ago

          Ozzie “scanning the forecast” fills me with confidence.

          1
          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          4 weeks ago

          On 2 minutes before forecasted!

          Reply
        • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          4 weeks ago

          Alas I am a Mariners Partisan (but as a matter of personal ethics I refrain from placing action either for or against my own rooting team because, well, that is just bad karma and asking for trouble.) Non-monetary wagers may be in play though. Okay I’m praying to baseball Jesus to please let the game commence.

          1
          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          4 weeks ago

          What’s with the trident, they’re only a few Yellow raincoats away from being the Gorton fishermen for Halloween

          2
          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          4 weeks ago

          Yikes, who had Adrian Houser pitching a shutout lead?

          1
          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          4 weeks ago

          Thanks Brewers and Mets!

          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          4 weeks ago

          It’s the beard! Or lack thereof. Cam Booser with beard, bases loaded Julio grand salami. Day later, no beard, no salami, no trident.

          Reply
        • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          4 weeks ago

          Ahhhhhhhhhhh maaaaaaaan. I think you jinxed me.

          1
          Reply
        • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          4 weeks ago

          Shall we wager a friendly pint of local pisser on the rubber match ?? ChiSox take the series then I have to guzzle a Chicago blue-collar industrial mainstay (that’s obtainable over here) …if M’s win the final game then my man High Fivin’ & Divin’ Theo has to shotgun an Olympia, Rainier, Heidelberg, Hamm’s or some such luscious swill. DEAL ??? [If you perchance are a teetotaler and/or Friend of Bill W should we switch to a foodstuff or cannabis varietal??]

          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          4 weeks ago

          Deal on. Old Style for you, I’ll search for Olympia or some such. The Steelers bar we frequent has a Hamms Bear statue so that’s always an option. Actually in my book, Budweiser is pretty nasty

          2
          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          4 weeks ago

          Congrats on your win. At least I picked up a Leody dinger for the fantasy club. In search of Olympia gold

          2
          Reply
  6. Bruce wulff

    4 weeks ago

    McMahon would look so nice for depth even with Shaw here hopefully for good now.

    1
    Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      4 weeks ago

      Hey now!

      Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      4 weeks ago

      You are correct, sir!!

      Reply
  7. Brick House Coffee Tables Inc

    4 weeks ago

    Moises hopefully learned what is and isn’t working against big league (well AAAA) pitching, and now he can go back to Iowa and make the necessary minor adjustments to his approach so that next time he is not looking like Jason Heyward beating everything into the ground to the right side of the infield.

    That said, I think he is the primary trade chip this July. Some rebuilding team will be happy to play him at the big league level, have him catch 30% of the time and DH against RHP the rest of the time.

    3
    Reply
  8. Pads Fans

    4 weeks ago

    16 AB. That should be enough to see what Ballesteros can do at the major league level.

    2
    Reply
    • Hammerin' Hank

      4 weeks ago

      It would be enough for the Orioles brain trust.

      1
      Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      4 weeks ago

      @Pads Fan what did you think of the Mariners series? Zero hits in scoring position the entire series baffled me. Machado and Merrill O-fer the entire series was curious. Only guys who looked alive were Crone and Sheets. I’m fully expecting Pads to come up to T-Mobile later in the year to return the favor though (so not gloating lol). Anyway just curious to hear from a fan perspective, cheers.

      1
      Reply
  9. msqboxer

    4 weeks ago

    “El Gordo” we will see you next year!

    Reply
  10. Ray Epps

    4 weeks ago

    Luke Little is mowing them down in AAA. Is he ever going to get called back up? I think at some point in time he should be considered the closer.

    2
    Reply
    • Strunk Flugget

      4 weeks ago

      Only if he grows a beard so he can look more intimidating.

      1
      Reply
  11. Alan53

    4 weeks ago

    It’s interesting (and disheartening) to note that most media are not even mentioning it when lopsided scores are aided by runs scored against non-pichers.

    I expect that from idiotic shills like Brett Taylor, but it’s sad to see that this journalistic malfeasance has spread beyond unserious homers like him.

    And it should be pointed out: Except perhaps in the most extreme of circumstances, non-pitchers shouldn’t pitch anyway. Games are supposed to be competitions. Neither team should ever give up. If you’re down 9-1 after eight innings, say, your attitude should be, well, maybe we can score eight in the ninth.

    And the practice cheapens the stats. The Cubs have the highest run differential in the NL this morning, but it isn’t really real. Seiya Suzuki leads the majors in RBI’s at the moment, but he doesn’t really.

    I suppose some of you will disagree, with the tone of thoughtful understatement that you characteristically employ, but maybe some of you will agree, too.

    Reply
    • Manfred Rob's Earth Band

      4 weeks ago

      I see your point. Basiically you think it cheapeans the game if I’m understanding correctly. I agree 100 percent. It was kind of neat that Anthony Rizzo struck out Freddie Freeman. However it did cheapen the game IMO. I don’t quite agree with the stats don’t count. All teams are utilizing the same lazy strategy of having non pitchers pitch late in games. From a stat perspective, I would think it evens the playing field for both RBIs from Seiya and run differential.

      Reply

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