
Chicago Cubs: The importance of versatility
For the Cubs, position player depth is one area where they have seemingly not struggled with for what feels like a while, and that is great. Ian Happ dramatically improves that dynamic with his versatile nature, and that is something which is difficult to move on from.
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The Cubs did not hold this notion that Happ would serve as a pseudo-utility player. However, that’s exactly what he’s done in his first two years. Since Happ possesses the ability to switch-hit, he can fill a variety of roles for manager Joe Maddon.
Of all the positions in the field, the only ones Happ has yet to play this season are shortstop and catcher. Strange enough, Happ has stepped in everywhere else, including a handful of innings at first base and a minute sample size of frames at second.
The necessity of versatility often goes overseen in Major League Baseball, making it essential the Cubs do possess a player with the level of utility like Happ maintains. For this reason alone, Happ should stay a part of the Cubs plans moving forward.