Ian Happ talks about his future: "I would love to stay here" |
Gold Glove outfielder
Ian Happ hopes that the 2023 season won't be a farewell season for him on the Northside.
"Chicago's the place that is home for me and the only thing that I've ever known," Happ said to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Happ understands that he will be a free agent after the season, and there will be interest from other ballclubs. "As a player who's only known this, you feel pretty at home in the organization and with the group. It would be weird to wear another jersey; I would love to stay here, and I would love to be a part of the next great Cubs team, but we'll see." Happ is a career .249 hitter with 104 homers and 308 RBIs in 678 games. "There are always considerations there just for what the market looks like, but right now, it's about being here and being present every day, just trying to win," Happ said. "The other stuff takes care of itself." Happ's negotiation with the Cubs should be interesting because they have a track record of late of letting go of their young players once they hit free agency. “I think all the experiences you have in the game help prepare you,” Happ said. “The experience in 2021 of those guys getting traded helped prepare me for going through it in ’22, and then going through that process helped prepare me for any time in the future when I might be involved in those rumors. It’s all part of it.” The Cubs will have a tough decision as he had an impressive 2022 season hitting .271 with 42 doubles, 155 hits, 72 runs scored and his first gold glove.
