Ian Happ has witnessed how this situation has played out with his former Chicago Cubs teammates.
Hours before the Cubs officially announced Nico Hoerner’s three-year contract extension — covering the second baseman’s final two years of arbitration and one year of free agency — Happ reflected on the annual uniqueness of opening day on the eve of the season opener against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Happ, 28, enters his final season before free agency without a contract extension, a topic he downplayed before the Cubs’ workout Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
“It’s not something I really want to get into,” said Happ, the ninth pick in the 2015 draft who is entering his seventh major-league season with the Cubs. “I mean, I went through the process and that’s about it. There’s nothing really to report and no real comment on it.
“I’m excited to play baseball with this group of guys.”
Team President Jed Hoyer prefers not having contract talks carry into the season. In the absence of an extension, Happ’s future in Chicago gains some clarity. It sets him up to test free agency, and he could be the second-best hitter on the market if he replicates his 2022 All-Star performance. And that likely prices him out of the organization and where the left fielder and the Cubs can find middle ground.
Happ credits last season’s experience — he thought he would get traded before the deadline — and watching the departures of former Cubs stars the last two years through trades and free agency with helping him navigate the uncertainty around his future. He sounds prepared if 2023 proves to be his last in a Cubs uniform.
“Just enjoy the day to day and enjoy being here, enjoy the fan base,” Happ said. “You play with guys that end up other places and it’s OK — it’s not the end of your career when you’re not playing where you came up. There definitely will be moments here or there, but it’s appreciating that and appreciating getting to play with this group.”
