Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras and outfielder Ian Happ hugged in the dugout following the Cubs’ 4-2 victory over the Pirates Tuesday afternoon. With both players appearing in discussions ahead of the trade deadline on Aug. 2, it is likely the last game the two will share as teammates at Wrigley Field.
In the midst of another season in which the team is not contending for a spot in the playoffs, players like Contreras and Happ represent valuable trade chips for the Cubs as they attempt to rebuild. Contreras, one of the best catchers in the league, is almost certain to leave the team, as the New York Mets and Houston Astros lead a long line of teams interested in the three-time All-Star.
Contreras signed his first minor league contract in 2009 at the age of 16 and worked his way through the Cubs organization to become one of the defining faces of baseball. In 2016, his rookie season, the team won its first World Series in 108 years. Now, Contreras is poised to help another team realize that dream. In an interview after the game, he admitted that the idea was bittersweet but that he was nevertheless prepared and excited.
“Getting traded to a team that is competing is good,” Contreras said. “If the Cubs get a good package for me to make this team better, they’re going to do it. And I’ll be more than happy to help a different team to make it to the World Series.”
Happ is not as likely to get traded as Contreras, but with reports suggesting that multiple teams are interested in the 2022 All-Star, he also considered it important to enjoy the Cubs’ final home stand before the trade deadline.
“It was two really beautiful days at Wrigley Field that I tried to appreciate just as much, if not more, than any other time I get to step out there,” Happ said.
For six seasons, Happ has been a solid contributor for the Cubs, but his 2022 season has been his most effective. In 95 games, the outfielder has batted .282 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs. If he is traded, he will provide a dependable bat to any number of teams looking to make a run in the postseason.
Trades in any sport often reduce players to commodities as teams look for ways to balance quick returns and long-term goals given their present situations. It’s ultimately a business. Chicago’s need to rebuild does not take the bond between longtime teammates like Contreras and Happ into account. But their embrace in what could be their final games at Wrigley Field represents the human element of the sport, as well as the meaning behind their careers as Cubs.
