The picture of Ian Happ and Willson Contreras embracing within the house dugout at Wrigley Field represented a second of goodbyes for what appeared to await the Chicago Cubs All-Stars.
That second one week in the past now turns into a reminder of the ups and downs main as much as the commerce deadline, the uncertainties of the unknown. Both gamers thought that July 26 day was their final at Wrigley in a Cubs uniform. Yet Contreras and Happ will return with their teammates Friday for the Cubs’ subsequent homestand.
Despite the Cubs’ 6-0 loss Tuesday to the St. Louis Cardinals, a lightheartedness lingered. Contreras barely may preserve a smile off his face after president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer didn’t commerce him due to inadequate worth in return.
Happ, in the meantime, joked it was the media’s fault for making him suppose he can be traded: “All those stories and the cameras the last couple days at Wrigley, it’s all on you guys.”
Happ understands his state of affairs, nevertheless. His final yr of group management in 2023 earlier than free company made him a sexy possibility on the commerce deadline. He knew there was an opportunity the Cubs would transfer him.
“One hundred percent I wanted to be here,” Happ mentioned Tuesday night time. “I wanted to be with these guys. I want to be in this clubhouse still wearing this jersey. And the city and fan base, the team means a lot to me and I’m really happy about that.”
While Contreras is aware of he seemingly is taking part in out his last two months with the Cubs as free company looms — now sophisticated by a possible qualifying provide — the Cubs may revisit shifting Happ within the offseason. Asked what he believes is his subsequent step ahead with the Cubs, Happ replied, “I don’t know.”
“Play these last two months and really enjoy it,” he mentioned. “Still a lot of work to do for me personally. Every day, there’s things to tweak, there’s things to learn and things to work on. And then as a team, there’s a lot of guys in this group that are going to be here next year and have a chance to make a huge impact.”
Manager David Ross broke the information to Contreras and Happ within the clubhouse throughout batting follow that they weren’t going wherever.
“It was a weight off my shoulders,” Contreras mentioned. “Today was a long day. I was really anxious to see what’s going to happen. Once Ross told me I’m still a Cub, it was amazing.”
Contreras figured a commerce was imminent due to how the final commerce deadline performed out for his teammates who had been impending free brokers.
“I’m really happy to stay with the Cubs,” he mentioned. “I would like to thank all of the organizations that reached out to the Cubs asking for myself.”
The uncertainty surrounding Contreras’ fast future was resolved Tuesday. How — or if — he matches within the Cubs’ long-term future is unknown, however with out a contract extension in place earlier than the offseason, he once more doubtlessly faces his last video games as a Cub.
“One thing is for sure,” Contreras mentioned, “tomorrow is another game so I have to stay focused. That’s all I can say.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com