Cubs: 3 potential trade destinations for a resurgent Ian Happ

Given the Chicago Cubs are currently an underwhelming 22-30 after 52 games, it is a foregone conclusion: Jed Hoyer will once again be fielding calls ahead of the deadline on almost everyone of value on this roster.

Pondering candidates who could wind up on the block, I can’t help but keep coming back to one of the Cubs’ longer-tenured players, Ian Happ. After mostly peaks and valleys throughout his career, Happ finished the 2021 campaign by putting up a .268/.350/.536 slash line over 235 second-half at-bats. He has followed that up nicely this year with a .252/.363/.415 mark entering action Friday afternoon, to go along with four homers and 26 RBI.

Though his power numbers are currently somewhat down – .164 ISO from a career .220, it’s important to note that his strikeout rate is down as well from 29.2 percent last year to 22.6 percent this season.

Happ sports a 159 wRC+ against righties and 102 wRC+ against southpaws. He’s also slashing an impressive .297/.404/.473 at Wrigley in 2022. But herein lies the question: given Happ’s improved consistency so far in 2022, he could conceivably be an extension candidate, as well as a trade chip.

With another year left on Happ’s contract and his recent play, his trade value has never been higher than right now. Let’s analyze three teams that could utilize Happ’s services the most.

Cubs: 3 potential Ian Happ landing spots – #2: Atlanta Braves

As a team that looks to contend year-in and year-out, the Atlanta Braves entered action Friday 9 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East. However, with an extra wild card berth in the mix and coming on the heels of their second-half run in 2022 that ended in a championship, there will be no waving the white flag from this team.

Looking at their current situation, outside of Ronald Acuna, the outfielders have been pretty not great at the plate this season. Eddie Rosario, before he got hurt, notched just a .068 batting average in 15 games, while Adam Duvall is at .191 and Guillermo Heredia sits at just .188. Marcell Ozuna has added some pop with 10 home runs, but it’s pretty clear this team could stand to add in the outfield.

Duvall, who is normally considered a lefty masher, is hitting just .171 off southpaws and .195 against right-handed pitching. All this to say, the Braves need an outfielder that can play everyday who hits both lefties and righties. Happ has taken 38 at bats this season against lefties and has surprised some folks, hitting .342 in those matchups. His switch-hitting capabilities and multi-positional versatility gives him more value than you may realize and don’t be surprised if the Braves come calling this summer.

Cubs: 3 potential Ian Happ landing spots – #1: San Diego Padres

Finishing it off, we land on the ever-competitive NL West. Currently, the San Diego Padres sit with a record of 30-21, nine games above .500 but still four games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the San Francisco Giants just 2 1/2 games behind San Diego, the Friars are going to need something to solidify their lineup and more importantly, their outfield depth.

Keeping in mind there is an extra Wild Card spot up for grabs this year, you’re going to see teams in crowded divisions like the NL West looking to improve wherever possible. The new format gives certain teams like the Padres (as well as the Braves), who may find themselves out of first place, a real shot at playing meaningful baseball late in the year with a chance at October. Glancing at the numbers the Padres, like several teams before them, could use a switch-hitting outfielder who has remained consistent to this point of the season.

Among the club’s current options in the outfield, Trent Grisham has sputtered to the tune of a .160 average, Wil Myers (more on him soon) is at just .234 and Jose Azocar is at .247 with just 57 at-bats to his credit in his rookie year.

Given the fact superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. will be coming back before long, the Padres will more than likely look to buy at the deadline. When you have a stud such as Tatis who has been out all year, getting him back is almost like acquiring a superstar via trade and the team’s offensive production could skyrocket from just that. However, adding in quality depth will also be a necessity. And it isn’t as if the Cubs haven’t been linked incessantly with San Diego over the last year or so.

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Both before and after the lockout, the Cubs and Padres were in talks to acquire one of Eric Hosmer or Wil Myers in a salary dump for the Padres. Though the talks eventually went nowhere, it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Cubs take on a bigger contract if it nets them a solid top 100 prospect in return. Including Happ in such a move could help Hoyer net an even more impressive haul.