Ian Happ’s future in Chicago may have looked shaky after what appeared to be a farewell moment at Wrigley Field, but there’s still a real path for the Cubs to keep him around.
Happ, who has spent his entire pro career in the Cubs organization since being drafted in the first round in 2015, will hit free agency after the postseason. Still, a source familiar with his thinking told FanSided that a hometown discount to stay in Chicago is very much on the table. That possibility carries extra weight because Happ already took a team-friendly three-year, $61 million extension in 2023.
Before what could have been his final home game as a Cub, Happ tossed a baseball with some cash for beer to fans in the Wrigley bleachers. The moment spread quickly, and it only added to the sense that the end might be near. But it may have been more of a goodbye-to-the-night than a goodbye-to-Chicago.
From a baseball standpoint, a reunion makes plenty of sense. Happ, now 32, was an All-Star in 2022 and has captured four straight Gold Glove Awards in left field.
His offense hasn’t been at peak levels this season, but he still put together a 2.9 bWAR and hit 24 home runs in 156 games. Last year, he posted a 4.0 bWAR with 23 homers in 150 games.
He also remains a dependable bat against right-handed pitching, carrying an .816 OPS against righties this season.
Durability is part of the appeal too. Since 2021, Happ has played at least 148 games every year, giving the Cubs an everyday outfielder they can count on.
Chicago may need that kind of stability if Seiya Suzuki departs in free agency this winter. Suzuki is expected to command a major contract, which could make Happ the more realistic player for the Cubs to retain. Losing both starting corner outfielders in one offseason would be a tough hit, and Happ would almost certainly come at a lower price than Suzuki.
The biggest sign that a return is possible is the simplest one: Happ doesn’t seem eager to leave. With his previous extension and the chance at another three-year deal, the Cubs could keep him through his age-35 season.
For now, though, the focus shifts to October. The Cubs face the San Diego Padres in the NL Wild Card round this week, and a strong postseason run from Happ could only strengthen the case for bringing him back to Chicago.
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