Will the Chicago Cubs trade Kyle Hendricks, Willson Contreras and Ian Happ?

Chicago Cubs: Where will Kyle Hendricks pitch in 2022?

Crazy enough, Kyle Hendricks is now, without a doubt, the best pitcher from the Chicago Cubs’ World Series championship run. With now super-veterans Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta shells of their former selves and with different clubs, Hendricks is still going strong.

While the 2021 season has featured some ups and downs and continued problems with first innings and the long ball, Hendricks is without a doubt one of the best pitchers in the league and capable of throwing a “Maddux” any time he takes the mound. He’s also on a very short MLB list of lockdown, gutsy, clutch playoff performers you’d want taking the ball in October.

Sure, the 4.54 ERA is rather unseemly for the “Professor,” but the 14-6 record is certainly nothing to sneeze and shows that he’s put his team in a position to win more often than not and is still more than capable of throwing lots of good games. 13 games in a row going at least six innings with no more than four runs (and only one four-run game) showed his usual mettle during the meat of the schedule from May to July. Unfortunately, he’s had five games giving up more than six earned runs to go with the 19 quality starts this season.

So, where does this all put Hendricks in terms of the masterplan heading into 2022? Honestly, the state of affairs in baseball and with the Cubs front office plays a bigger role in what to do with Hendricks than pretty much anyone else in baseball. Controlled for another three years at under $15 million per season (club option in 2024), Hendricks is one of the cheapest 31-year-old front-end arms you could find. Other clubs know this, as well.

And, if a pro-player CBA and rough offseason pushes the Cubs to decide that 2023 or 2024 suits their timeline more than contending next season, it’s likely Hendricks would be moved if the Cubs can get what they want in return. While things may work in the Cubs favor and Hendricks might likely return, don’t be surprised if Hendricks is unloaded this offseason if the Cubs can pick up two quality prospects.

Chicago Cubs: Ian Happ’s performance is maddening at times

Is Ian Happ a different version of Kyle Schwarber in disguise? Other than the body type and Happ’s ability to switch hit, the two guys have a lot in common. Sure, Happ is faster and a bit more athletic in general than the now-Red Sox left fielder, but there’s something in their tools and inconsistency that just makes them maddening for such a large percentage of fans. Neither one really has a position they are great at, although Happ has had more positional flexibility, even if he doesn’t play any of them particularly well.

Happ is a tease for anyone who watches him during hot streaks like he’s currently in right now. Same could be said of Schwarbs when he was with the Cubs as well, although he’s put together a mostly consistent and phenomenal 2021 season with the Nationals and Red Sox so far. Happ’s explosive power, especially to the left-center gap as a left-handed hitter is special, his eye and command of the strike zone is excellent, and his speed on the bases is a plus. He’s also a really likable character and one of the few guys fans can cling to with all of the departures.

And yet, there’s the plummet off the cliff for large stretches with Happ that suggests he isn’t ever going to fully and consistently figure it out. It’s infuriating and seems to defy logic, but how can a guy bat .170 for a large part of the year and then all of a sudden flip a switch and look like an MVP? I like Happ, and I’m not saying I don’t want him on the Cubs, but look what a fresh start and a “kick in the pants” did for the World Series hero Schwarber.

If another club really likes what Happ brings to the table and thinks they can harness his abilities consistently, the Cubs will most definitely listen given the fact Happ’s arbitration number will be going up and that he only has two more years left of club control.

Chicago Cubs: Will Willson Contreras be behind the plate at Wrigley in 2022?

A couple years ago, and maybe even last offseason, the Cubs were no doubt hoping that Miguel Amaya would be having his cup of coffee in Chicago at this point and then be ready to take on a more substantial role on the 2022 team.

Unfortunately, after a middling start to the season in the minors and an injury that has had him out for the last couple months, it’s possible, Amaya doesn’t even get to the bigs until 2023. And, while that could still line up with a Contreras exit to test free agency after next season, that’s not really what anyone would bet on at this point.

So, the questions stands, what do the Cubs do with Contreras? Clearly, the guy is now the emotional leader of the squad with Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo no longer in the picture, although their hasty jettison also paints a hazy picture for Contreras himself. With no extension in place, how is Contreras any different than those other two, especially heading into his own walk year?

My guess is the Cubs will try and extend him, if for no other reason than he’s here, he’ll be a positive leader in the clubhouse, and he’s still one of the best offensive catchers in baseball when healthy. However, if Opening Day gets closer and closer and the Cubs still have not extended him, the writing is on the wall, as it was with the guys offloaded in the most recent midseason fire sale.

As noted, so much depends upon the CBA and changing landscape of the league/team this year, but it’s sure to be a busy and interesting offseason for the Cubs, if nothing else.