Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ has agreed to a three-year, $61 million extension to remain in what he referred to as his “home.”
“It’s the place I always wanted to be,” Happ stated. “I’ve been pretty clear about that for a long time. Just the fact that I have wanted to wear this uniform for as long as I possibly can made it pretty easy.”
The contract runs by way of 2026 for the 28-year-old Happ, who would have been a free agent after this season. He has made no bones about his want to stay a Cub and has taken on a management position within the clubhouse because the 2021 trades of Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.
The sides talked about an extension within the offseason however didn’t get something completed earlier than opening day. Cubs President Jed Hoyer stated on March 30 they’d “really productive and cordial discussion throughout the winter and spring” and that wouldn’t preclude them from attempting to succeed in a deal throughout the season.
“That certainly doesn’t mean we can’t (get a deal done) in the future and doesn’t mean we don’t value him as a player and want him long term,” Hoyer stated then.
Happ’s compromise meant taking fewer years than he may’ve gotten on the open market.
“I don’t know what changed or why,” Happ stated. “Sometimes it’s hard to find the momentum (in negotiations). And once you get it, things can happen quick.”
Some gamers lower off negotiations as soon as a season begins, however Happ clearly needed to maintain speaking.
“To me, that’s always a player thing, the in-season stuff,” Hoyer stated. “I don’t have to hit a fastball or play left field. It doesn’t affect me. I can sit at my desk any day.”
Happ has 105 profession residence runs and a .802 OPS in seven seasons with the Cubs. He made the National League All-Star crew final season and gained his first Gold Glove award. Going into Wednesday’s recreation, he had a .314 common, one residence run and 6 RBIs with a .981 OPS.
Nico Hoerner signed a three-year, $35 million deal in the beginning of the season that additionally takes him by way of 2026, which might have been his first yr of free company. Happ’s deal is way bigger, however the comparatively quick size of each offers is in keeping with the Cubs choice for not being tied up with too many long-term contracts.
Hoerner stated he was “shocked and incredibly happy” about Happ’s extension.
“It’s significant extending players that started in this organization,” he stated. “I think it means more here, and Ian is someone who was here for the last great teams, has had incredible highs in this game and struggled, like we all have, and found himself in a place now that’s as consistent as I’ve ever seen mentally from a player I’ve played with.”
Three years is just not a very long time in contrast with many free-agent contracts. But Happ will probably be a 32-year-old free agent in 2026 and may have the ability to command one other profitable deal if he continues at his present tempo.
Hoyer maintained future payroll flexibility whereas maintaining a participant he and Chairman Tom Ricketts really feel embodies the Cubs tradition within the post-championship period.
“You want flexibility always, but at the same time you also want to keep really good players,” Hoyer stated. “There’s that push and pull. We may regret later on not doing a longer deal, but for now this is a structure we agreed on and I think it made sense for both sides.”
Hoyer couldn’t get offers completed with Rizzo, Bryant or Javier Báez, who had been traded on the 2021 deadline, or Willson Contreras, who left as a free agent final fall and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. The widespread denominator is all of them needed long-term offers, whereas Happ settled for 3 years.
“I definitely talked to Rizz through the process,” Happ stated. “Seeing these guys and being there, particularly with Rizz, by way of the method and studying from his (expertise) and having his steering.
“Everybody is at a different point in their career and on a different path, but for me, just to be able to be here and get the deal done in a structure I felt made a lot of sense for me is really rewarding.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com