The last time we checked in on Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, it was when ESPN’s Jeff Passan revealed last Friday that the team is “likely to trade him.” Happ, 28 in August, has a 122 wRC+ on the season. He’s got about $2.4MM remaining on his contract this year, and will be eligible for arbitration for 2023. If the Cubs want to trade the 2015 first-rounder prior to the offseason, they’ve got fewer than nine hours to get it done. Here’s the latest:
- The Dodgers have looked at Happ, though apparently as a backup plan if they can’t land Juan Soto, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Rookie James Outman has garnered the Dodgers’ last couple of left field starts to great success, and Chris Taylor‘s rehab assignment from a foot fracture begins tonight.
- Last week, Robert Murray of Fansided noted that Happ had been “connected” to the Padres and Blue Jays. The Padres are firmly in the Soto bidding, so Happ may serve as a backup plan for them as well. The Jays’ outfield generally sets up as Lourdes Gurriel Jr., George Springer, and Teoscar Hernandez, with Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer providing backup. Toronto tends to rest Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the DH spot when it’s not occupied by Alejandro Kirk. While the Jays don’t seem to have a ton of room for Happ, MLB’s Jon Morosi notes that his ability to cover center field while Springer deals with a modest elbow injury is key.
Hoyer has a lot of work to do today. His main order of business is obviously moving Contreras so perhaps Happer stays. They could always move him in the off-season instead. Cubs also have relievers they want to move today.
A lot hinges on the Soto deal.
Happer? He a hockey player along with Kaner and Toewser?
Check out his Baseball Reference page. It lists Happer as his nickname.
Having had some real estate and coffee business dealings with Ian, I can vouch on his character, work ethic, and genuine compassion for the human race. He would be an upgrade in any locker room throughout Major League Baseball.
In honor of his imminent departure, I just purchased a bag of Connect Roasters, good stuff Jimmy!
He’s really quite the sensitive new age male who always sounds like he’s about to cry on the Score. Great that you’re doing the Connect Roasters project with him- so he’s really vested in that? Cool. Will the dinger dollars transfer over if he gets traded?
Happ would be a great fit if LA had to trade Lux to get Lopez
Finally the Cubs have another chance to sell high on Happ. He is what is left over from what troubled the Cubs since their success in 2016. Power, lots of Ks and extreme inconsistency. Baez and Bryant were the same way. So happy to see the Cubs move on from poor plate approaches. Happ can at least take a walk, which is more than I can say about Baez. Just sell him while he’s on the uptrend, because inevitably he’s gonna trend downward, and time is running out to get value.
Ryan, I take it that you don’t watch many Cub games, because if you did – you would have probably noticed the improvement in Happs game, this year. From both sides of the plate – as well as his approach. Power numbers are down a bit, but other than that, he is a much more, complete player.
Yeah,he’s been better this year, but will that continue? Until this year he absolutely had k issues and showed inconsistency.
Contreras to the Mets
Happ to the Jays
Robertson to the Phillies
That very well could happen.. Although Robertson keeps getting linked to either Contreras or Happ in a package deal for a better prospect.
Today is the crescendo for the Cubs plan to acquire young controllable talent and put the finishing touches on the dismantling of the Epstein era. Unfortunately, this market might not return the high level talent they desire.
I would hope that Contreras can fetch a decent return for the Cubs. A quick look at the suitors for Happ and how he seems to fit as a rotational/depth piece doesn’t sound promising. If the Cubs manage to land just two or three future contributors I’d say they have done well at this deadline.
They received serious prospects last trade deadline. I love the kid they got for Efross from the Yankees. I think Hoyer knows what he wants and really only needs to deal Contreras. Gonna be an interesting day.
I think Happ goes to Astros. they have glaring need in CF
I’m hopeful that the Yankees will swoop in and make a play for Happ. Aaron Hicks has struggled since he signed his contract and he looks helpless at the plate these days. Happ would be a huge upgrade and lefthanded swing is perfect for Yankee Stadium.
Despite the recent trades the Yankees can still offer Peraza if they need to….they also can move Andujar so he gets the chance he deserves.
Not expecting it to happen but would be ecstatic if it did.
I think the Cubs are crazy to get rid of Contreras… even if you are rebuilding you have to start with a solid brick in place..
Yeah, 30 year old catchers are a great starting place….
30 year old DH you mean. Contreras isn’t staying behind the plate and that is exactly why other teams have shied away from a deal. I think the Cubs are just as likely to keep him and give him a qualifying offer as they are to trade him at this point. The match ups just are not there.
Once Soto moves, all hell is gonna break loose. Good luck keeping up with it all, MLBTR!
Happ is a 1st rd pick that didn’t pan out, can’t play a position and inconsistency at the plate but because of a 1/2 season of modest success all of a sudden he’s Andre Dawson to a lot of Cub fans. The crying about trading him is laughable. They’ve floundered since 2017 because of horrible trades, FA signings and ownership that doesn’t know anything about sports, the city or basic human decency-Baseballs version of the Bears McCaskeys. This team is worse than any Cub team in my lifetime-the fans are getting a big bowl of crap and keep asking for a bigger spoon.
Feel better?
What a bad take. Ian Happ has never had a season below 100 OPS+ and he’s been over .750 OPS every single season of his career as well with his career OPS north of 800. He’s always been above league average yet “he didn’t pan out” apparently.
Giants???? Go get him!!
Farhan is busy searching the dumpster!
Springer’s arm is hanging on by a thread and Zimmer/Tapia dont really cut it, so it would make a lot of sense for the Jays.
Current bench/4th OF since Springer rarely plays::
Zimmer 28 OPS+
Collins 90 OPS+
Biggio 98 OPS+
Tapia 99 OPS+
Happ 123 OPS+
I don’t think he gets moved today. The Braves were the best fit and they settled for Robbie Grossman. The entrance of the Red Sox as sellers instead of buyers, and the entire Juan Soto nonsense, both have made the market too difficult to get a return that will be better than waiting until November.
See him get on the red line to the south side. Gonna HAPPen.
That would be sweet. Dinger dollars still available
Happ and Robertson and cash for Montgomery.