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Chicago Cubs: Ian Happ is Great, But He Will Get Traded Eventually

By Dan Schmelzer

Mar 20, 2017; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (86) hits a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2017; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (86) hits a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago Cubs prospect Ian Happ is killing it, but he is bound to be traded at some point.

The Chicago Cubs are loaded with more position player talent than any team in baseball. The best part is that most of them are extremely young and under control for many years. Guys like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber are not going anywhere anytime soon. And that doesn’t even put into consideration guys like Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward, Albert Almora and Willson Contreras.

Simply put, it is going to be difficult for any player to crack the everyday lineup for the Chicago Cubs the next few years. Joe Maddon is one of the most creative managers in the game and does a great job of getting everybody involved, but there are only so many positions and so many games to be played.

This brings us to Cubs prospect Ian Happ, who is absolutely tearing the cover off of the ball in Spring Training. Happ was the ninth overall selection by the Cubs in the 2015 draft. He is a second baseman by trade but has been learning how to play corner outfield as well.

Happ is a sweet-swinging switch hitter who shows great natural contact skills, a fantastic eye at the plate and some pop in his bat. Happ is a career .272/.362/.452 hitter in the minor leagues who has a nice, safe offensive floor in the big leagues.

He is showing off his offensive skills in Spring Training with the big league club, hitting an incredible .417/.473/.813 with five home runs in 48 at-bats. Happ is absolutely killing it, making some wonder how quickly he will figure into the Cubs’ big league plans.

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He was solid in Double-A last season and it would not be unrealistic to see Happ get a chance in the big leagues at some point in 2017. That being said, where would he possibly play?

Zobrist and Baez make second base arguably the toughest position to crack on the Cubs’ depth chart, and that is saying something. Happ can play corner outfield, but he is not seeing starts over Schwarber in left field. Also, unless Heyward is awful at the plate again, right field is pretty much off of the table.

Unless there are major injuries or Heyward simply cannot hit his worth, there is not room for Happ on the Cubs. The roster is crammed now and it is unlikely to be getting better anytime soon. With that in mind, Happ getting traded continues to be the most likely scenario.

They have been showcasing him in Spring Training, and eventually, Happ will likely get moved for pitching. He is an extremely talented player who is going to be a successful offensive player in the majors.

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However, the Chicago Cubs simply do not have room for him. Happ is more valuable to this organization as a trade chip, and what a valuable trade chip he will be.

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