3 contracts Cubs can trade to free up room for Carlos Correa
By Mark Powell
Cubs: Trading Ian Happ now makes sense
Happ had an abysmal first half to the 2021 campaign, making him borderline unplayable for that portion of the season. Yet, come the second half, Happ slashed .268/.350/.536 with a 133 wRC+.
That’s just who Happ is — he can hit under the Mendoza line for 80 games, and all of a sudden turn a corner thanks to a simple adjustment to his batting mechanics. It’s not necessarily healthy for Cubs fans or for a team hoping to contend, but is does make him an attractive trade chip if Chicago acts right after the new CBA is signed.
The Cubs could trade Happ — an attractive commodity who becomes even better if the DH becomes available in both leagues — for prospects or more young players ready for the major-league level.
Happ himself is just 27 years old, so the Cubs risk trading a player under-30 to another team that knows how to best use his services. His contract isn’t abysmal by any stretch of the imagination, but he is entering an arbitration year next offseason. Those are negotiations the Cubs would rather not take part in, especially for an up-and-down player who can’t consistently prove himself.
If Correa does someday lead the Cubs to World Series glory, it won’t come with Happ on the roster.