Happ Expects To Be Heavily Involved In Contract Discussions With Chicago Cubs

Ian Happ is hopeful to stay with the Chicago Cubs for seasons to come and expects to have personal involvement in all discussions and negotiations regarding his contract.

Some players prefer to let their agent negotiate contracts.

Not Ian Happ.

The Chicago Cubs left fielder plans to be directly in the mix with the organization regarding all financial matters.

“All that stuff plays out behind closed doors, and different guys go about it different ways,” Happ told reporters Thursday at spring training in Mesa, Ariz. “But I’ve always been involved in everything that I do. It’s something that I enjoy doing, and have an understanding, I think it’s important.”

Happ has been the Cubs’ union representative the last two years as well as a pension representative for MLBPA executive subcommittee.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has said that the club won’t set a hard deadline on extension talks.

Happ earned his first All-Star selection last season along with a Gold Glove.

Happ hit .271 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI in ’22. In six career seasons with the Cubs, Happ owns a .249 average with 104 homers and 308 RBI.

Now he wants to remain with the organization for as long as possible while maximizing his financial future.

“Being someone who’s only worn this jersey and has come up through the system,” Happ said. “I take a lot of pride in this place and all that stuff about being here and being a Cub and enjoying being a Cub for as long as it lasts.”

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