Ian Happ sought out former Cubs All-Star before signing extension
Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ signed a three-year extension with the club on Wednesday, but only after consulting one of the franchise's all-time greats.
After news of his extension with the Cubs broke, Happ told James Neveau of NBC Sports Chicago that he talked to his "good friend" Anthony Rizzo, now with the New York Yankees, before deciding to remain a Cub long-term.
Happ said that over his seven season with the club, guidance from Rizzo and other former Cubs, such as Kris Bryant and Wilson Contreras, was invaluable when it came to determining his future in Chicago.
"Seeing those guys and being there with those guys through the process and learning from his experience and having his guidance (was huge)," Happ said.
Rizzo, still a fan-favorite in Chicago, spent 10 seasons with the Cubs, including four alongside Happ, before being traded to the Yankees for a pair of minor leaguers in the summer of 2021.
Watching several legends from the 2016 World Series team leave over the past few seasons, Happ bucked the trend, agreeing to a three-year, $61 million extension with Chicago.
"This is the place I've always wanted to be, that's been pretty clear for a long time," he told reporters via Marquee Sports Network. "Just the fact that I've wanted to wear this uniform for as long as I possibly can made it pretty easy."
The Cubs selected Happ ninth overall out of the University of Cincinnati in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft. Making his debut in 2017, Happ has played 689 games as a Cub, recording 105 home runs and 314 RBI in that space.
This season, Happ is off to a solid start, hitting a home run with six RBI while slashing .282/.429/.462 over 11 games.
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