The Chicago Cubs have made their first real statement about Ian Happ’s future, and it wasn’t by handing him a qualifying offer.
While the club did extend that offer to Seiya Suzuki, Happ was left out, a decision that makes any reunion feel a lot less straightforward. At $23.15 million, the qualifying offer would have been a hefty price tag for a player who was pushed into a platoon role over the final two months of the regular season.
That matters because Happ had already been viewed as a possible return candidate on a shorter, cheaper deal. Last month, Pat Ragazzo reported that Happ would be open to coming back to the Cubs on a discounted contract. His previous three-year deal with Chicago carried an AAV of $20.3 million.
There’s still a path back, but the Cubs’ move suggests they have a clear ceiling in mind. With Josiah Hartshorn and Kane Kepley still at least a year away from being ready, a short-term Happ reunion would make some sense. But passing on the qualifying offer also hints the Cubs were concerned he might accept it, and it appears unlikely they’d want to go much higher than that $23 million range.
Happ’s numbers over the final two months of the 2026 season help explain why the relationship has cooled. He hit .214/.316/.390 with a wRC+ of 98 during that stretch, and after being a regular in the lineup for years, he was used only against right-handed pitching.
So the door isn’t shut, but Chicago has clearly drawn a line. If Happ returns, it will be on the Cubs’ terms. If not, the organization seems prepared to move on.
That decision also makes Happ a more attractive name for teams looking for outfield help. Clubs such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, and Cincinnati Reds could now have interest, and he would have been a tougher fit for them if the qualifying offer had been attached. Other possible suitors include the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.
As for the Cubs’ own outfield picture, the lack of a Happ reunion would leave them searching for a stopgap veteran. The free-agent market isn’t deep, so a trade could become the more realistic route. Steven Kwan would be an ideal target, though the Cleveland Guardians may not be in a mood to discuss deals right now.
If that’s how it plays out, the Cubs may wind up leaning much more heavily on Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw in the outfield next season.
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Cubs May Have A More Realistic Guardians Trade Option After All
If the Guardians decide Steven Kwan is staying put, the trade conversation around their outfield could shift in a direction the Cubs would be watching closely. Jo Adell has surfaced as a possible name to monitor, and it is easy to see why Chicago would have some interest. He brings real power potential, and the Cubs have been paying attention to ways of adding more impact to the lineup without overcommitting on the market.
Adells appeal comes with the usual caveats, though, because his profile still comes with both strengths and weaknesses that make him more of a calculated swing than a sure thing. For the Cubs, the question is whether his upside is worth the risk if Cleveland makes him available. The Guardians offseason decisions could determine whether this remains a speculative fit or becomes a more realistic option for Chicago to pursue. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cubs Could Be Back In Play Despite One Big Problem
The Cubs offseason could include a familiar theme: checking back on players they already know well. Michael Soroka, Sean Newcomb, Joc Pederson and Andrew Kittredge are all expected to hit free agency, and each name comes with a different kind of fit for a club that will be weighing pitching depth, lineup balance and bullpen help as it maps out the winter. Reunion talks are never as simple as nostalgia, but the appeal is obvious when a team has seen firsthand what a player can bring, and what his limitations might be.
Still, the biggest obstacle is rarely talent. In each case, the Cubs would have to sort through the same question that ended the relationship the first time, while also deciding whether those roster spots are better spent elsewhere. With several former Cubs potentially available, the front office may have options, but the real challenge is figuring out which ones make sense once the market opens and the priorities get clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs First Offseason Move Says Plenty About Jed Hoyers Pitching Plan
The Cubs wasted little time after the 40-man roster deadline, claiming right-handed reliever Eric Orze off waivers from the Twins. It is not the kind of move that turns heads on its own, but it does fit the early shape of Chicagos offseason, where pitching help is expected to be the priority and every roster addition is likely to be viewed through that lens.
Orze brings a recent major league track record, having pitched in 36 games for Minnesota this past season, though the results were uneven and the underlying numbers were mixed. For a Cubs front office that appears willing to sift through the margins for useful arms, he looks like the sort of reclamation gamble that can be part of a larger plan, even if the bigger pitching moves are still ahead. [Read more 🡒]