Cubs: Yankees are an obvious fit in an Ian Happ trade

While a trade for Ian Happ is certainly far from guaranteed, there is certainly a real possibility the Cubs move him if they get a good enough return.

While the organization’s plan going into the trade deadline appears set in stone, with Willson Contreras and the team’s three back-end reliever signings surely being moved, one thing remains relatively uncertain, and that is what the Cubs will choose to do with Ian Happ.

Happ has been a revelation for Chicago this season, showing improved defense and a refined approach at the plate leading to a strikeout percentage of just 20.5 percent as of July 9, the lowest of his career by a wide margin. While that has come at the expense of some power, Happ has still been a force at the plate, sporting a .281/.377/.455 slash line with a career-high wRC+ of 132. The former first-rounder also has a career-high 2.3 fWAR, a personal single-season best with two series left to play before the All-Star Break.

Happ has had very few speed bumps along the way this season and now that presents a very interesting dilemma for Jed Hoyer at the deadline. Does he sell high on Happ with another year of control left which would make it harder for the team to compete in 2023? Does he perhaps look to extend Happ, banking on this being the real version of the often-in-the-past inconsistent outfielder? Or does Hoyer just stand back and wait to see what happens?