Left fielder Happ latest Cubs star to be stuck in limbo, but he's just focused on trying to help team win
Stop if you've heard this one before.
The Cubs have a key player heading into his final season before being eligible for free agency.
The Cubs sound like they want to sign said key player to a contract extension. Said key player has expressed an interest in staying with the Cubs.
Meet Ian Happ.
"Chicago's the place that is home for me and the only thing that I've ever known," Happ told MLB.com at the Cubs' training camp in Mesa, Ariz. "As a player who's only known this, you feel pretty at home in the organization and with the group. It would be weird to wear another jersey.
"I would love to stay here and I would love to be a part of the next great Cubs team, but we'll see."
Last spring, catcher Willson Contreras was expressing similar sentiments. He hit the market after the 2022 season and is now employed by the rival Cardinals.
Before Contreras, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber were other notable players who wound up moving on.
Happ doesn't have the name recognition of Contreras, Baez and the rest of the departed core, but that's beginning to change.
Not only did the 28-year-old left fielder play in his first All-Star Game last season, he won his first Gold Glove.
Happ - the Cubs' first-round draft pick (No. 9 overall) in 2015 - also hit .271/.342/.440 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI while playing 158 games.
There are still a couple of weeks left in camp, so if Happ and the Cubs are going to come to an agreement on a contract extension, it should happen fairly soon.
"My preference is really not to get toward the end of spring training and get to a place where I feel like it's affecting the preparation and mentality for the season," Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said.
If a deal can't be reached, Happ is likely to be traded by the July 31 deadline or play out the season and be replaced by one of the organization's top prospects. With Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kevin Alcantara, Brennen Davis and Alexander Canario, the Cubs are loaded with minor-league outfielders.
Hitting the free-agent market wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to Happ.
"There are always considerations there, just for what the market looks like," Happ said. "But right now, it's about being here and being present every day, just trying to win. The other stuff takes care of itself."
A switch-hitter, Happ is as durable as they come and he's set to handle most of the workload in left field.
If he needs a break, the Cubs can turn to newcomer Trey Mancini, who is also a first baseman and designated hitter.
Fremd High School product Mike Tauchman is a non-roster invitee in spring training, but he's having a strong camp and is another option in left field if he makes the 26-man roster.
In eight Cactus League games, the 30-year-old Tauchman is batting .400/.526/.533.