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Chicago Cubs: 4 players to be thankful for: No.2 Ian Happ
After being drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2015 Major League Baseball amateur draft, Happy finally appeared to have reached his full potential with the team in 2022. Happ finished the 2022 season with a slash line of .271/.342/.440/.781 to go along with 15 home runs while posting a 120 wRC+. Happ's breakout performance in 2022 also saw him earn National League All-Star and National League Gold Glove honors for the first time in his career.
With Happ having one more season of team control, there was a sense that the Cubs may have traded Happ at Major League Baseball trade deadline last season. Happ remained with the Cubs past the deadline and now with an expectation of returning to contention in 2023, the team is expected to have contract extension discussions with Happ this offseason.
At some point, the Cubs are going to need to show a willingness to extend their homegrown players. Happ represents the perfect opportunity for the Cubs to prove that willingness as he undoubtedly should be a part of the next contending core.