Chicago Cubs News: Ian Happ remains with Major League team
With Jason Heyward set to be activated on Sunday, the Chicago Cubs optioned Tommy La Stella down to Triple-A Iowa. Meaning, Ian Happ will stay with the Major League roster.
Prior to the Chicago Cubs‘ game being rained out against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon, Jason Heyward was set to make his return to the lineup.
Heyward was to be activated from the disabled list and Tommy La Stella was to be sent down to Triple-A Iowa. That roster move was put on hold considering the rain out on Saturday and the expectation is that the Cubs will announce the move prior to Sunday’s finale against the Brewers.
With La Stella being optioned down, that means that Ian Happ, for the foreseeable future, is here to stay.
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Throughout the past week, there has been speculation over what the Cubs will do once Heyward returned from the disabled list. Happ was promoted to the Major League level last weekend considering the rash of injuries the Cubs had to their position players.
Happ has been impressive in his first week with the Major League team. In 26 plate appearances, Happ is hitting .333/.462/.714 with a wOBA of .486 and a wRC+ .202.
The question now becomes how will Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon ensure that Happ receives regular plate appearances.
Happ will likely be thrown in the same rotation that includes Javier Baez, Ben Zobrist, Albert Almora Jr, and Jon Jay. Maddon will need to juggle plate appearances between those five players. On Saturday, before the game was postponed, Maddon has Happ playing in center field. Fortunately for Maddon, Baez, Zobrist, and Happ are extremely versatile.
With Happ appearing to be a long-term fixture on the Cubs’ Major League roster, the team may be getting close to the point where they need trade one of their talented prospects. Of course, Happ will be at the center of most trade discussions, and for the right cost-controlled starting pitcher, the Cubs’ front office may just pull the trigger on such a deal.
Happ is once again in center field for the Chicago Cubs as they play the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon.