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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 04: Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs hits a house run in opposition to the St. Louis … [+]
For the second time in a month, the Cubs have locked up a homegrown hitter whom Theo Epstein and his scouts focused on the high of a draft. Change-hitting outfielder Ian Happ and the crew have agreed to a three-year, $61 million deal, in accordance with stories by Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami and ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Infielder Nico Hoerner had beforehand agreed to a three-year, $35 million deal late in spring coaching. He grew to become the primary Cub to be prolonged long-term since Kyle Hendricks in 2019.
The Happ and Hoerner offers observe a run when the crew both traded or misplaced to free company a gaggle of its greatest gamers, together with Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras.
Happ and Hoerner lack the star energy of these former teammates however each have developed into high-floor, constant gamers after being first-round picks. Happ, like Bryant and Schwarber, was a complicated hitter in school. He’s emerged as a robust main league hitters, elevating his profession OPS to .801.
It’s notable that the Cubs are giving Happ a full no-trade clause within the deal, as they determine to quickly have an abundance of outfielders. Jed Hoyer, who succeeded Epstein as president of baseball operations, signed a five-year, $85 million take care of Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki earlier than 2022. The Cubs added veterans Cody Bellinger and Trey Mancini on brief contracts within the low season, seemingly to function bridge items to a wealth of younger outfielders on the highest ranges of their farm system.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kevin Alcantara, Brennan Davis, Owen Caissie and Alexander Canario are all projected to push for major-league jobs throughout the subsequent two seasons. Nelson Velasquez, a hero within the Cubs’ Monday win over Seattle, and Christopher Morel are pushing to earn a second likelihood whereas beforehand flashing their abilities in Chicago or the Arizona Fall League.
Happ is incomes $10.5 this season and was eligible without spending a dime company after the season. His contract eliminates three free agent seasons in alternate for monetary safety.
With Happ signed, the Cubs might look to commerce from their stock of younger outfielders to pursue catching or beginning pitching. It’s doable they’ll look to be consumers, not sellers at this summer time’s commerce deadline.
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