2:08 PM ET
CHICAGO — Longer-term deals were discussed, but in the end one of the better looming free agents came off the market Wednesday when left fielder Ian Happ signed a three-year contract extension with the Chicago Cubs.
The deal is worth $61 million and contains a full no-trade clause, sources told ESPN.
“This is the place I wanted to be,” Happ said Wednesday after the deal was announced. “I’ve been pretty clear about that for a long time. Just the fact that I wanted to wear this uniform for as long as I can made it pretty easy.”
Happ, 28, was set to become a free agent after the 2023 season but will remain in Chicago through at least 2026, as his new contract begins next year.
Happ is part of a core group of Cubs players that includes Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, Jameson Taillon and Seiya Suzuki, all of whom are signed for at least the next three seasons.
“I’ve seen such a change in him over the last year in terms of stepping into a leadership role,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “His preparation to play is outstanding, both from a physical preparation, and also he does everything he can think of to win a game.”
After finishing eighth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2017, Happ struggled to stay in the big leagues, seeing his strikeout percentage balloon to 36% the next season. But over time, he matured as a hitter and as an outfielder. He made his first All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove in 2022.
Playing every day after the Cubs traded several players from their contending team of the past decade helped Happ develop his game.
“Those are the things that give you belief you’re supposed to be here and compete at this level,” he said. “Having that opportunity was huge for me.”
Happ and Hoyer understand the deal won’t retire him as a Cub. He’ll be back on the free agent market at age 32.
“There’s compromising on structure, there’s compromising on term,” Happ said. “Taking something that is three years and runs through baseball prime … that’s my concession to be here. I really wanted to continue wearing this uniform.”
Hoyer added: “We went through a lot of different structures and realized that shorter was probably going to work better than longer.”
Happ is off to a solid start in 2023, batting .282 (11-for-39) with a home run, 10 walks and 12 strikeouts.
Happ’s signing comes a couple of weeks after the team locked up second baseman Nico Hoerner for three years as well. Both are homegrown players and now will remain Cubs for the foreseeable future.
“I love this place and I love the idea of competing in the playoffs in a Cubs uniform,” Happ said. “That’s the part that was so motivating.”
