Former Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said the team faces a clear decision on longtime outfielder Ian Happ this offseason, suggesting the club could retain him in a limited role or move on from left field entirely.
Happ, who has spent his entire major-league career with Chicago, is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. The Cubs selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2015 draft and later signed him to a three-year, $61 million extension that covered 2024 through 2026.
Rizzo, a member of the 2016 World Series team, offered his view during an interview with Casino.ca. He described Happ as a steady presence who has delivered consistent production across a decade in Chicago.
“He’s been an amazing Cub, very consistent over his time,” Rizzo said. “It’ll be interesting to see if the Cubs maybe want to keep him as a platoon player and hit against righties, or they just move on and fill that left field void.”
Happ appeared in 156 games in 2026 and batted .218 with 24 home runs, 68 RBIs, 28 doubles and 89 runs scored. He drew 81 walks, posting a .326 on-base percentage and a .738 OPS.
Those numbers marked a decline from some of his stronger seasons, though his defense remained a strength. Happ has won four Gold Glove awards for his work in the outfield.
Rizzo highlighted that part of Happ’s game specifically.
“He’s a Gold Glove outfielder. He’s an elite, elite left fielder, and we’ll see how that all shapes out. But I know for Ian, wherever he goes, he’s going to be a good addition to that team for sure.”
Over 10 seasons, all with the Cubs, Happ owns a .243 career batting average with 197 home runs, 625 RBIs and 1,069 hits. His career on-base percentage sits at .341.
The Cubs finished the regular season at 89-73 and earned a Wild Card berth. They were swept by the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card Series, dropping both games on the road.
Happ went hitless in that series, collecting no hits in six at-bats while drawing two walks. The early exit ended Chicago’s postseason run after the club had secured a playoff spot in late September.
Rizzo also pointed to pitching as the Cubs’ top offseason priority, saying the team’s defense and offense were already solid but that next year’s roster will carry a new identity. He expects the front office to address the rotation and bullpen.
Happ, for his part, has said he does not yet know how free agency will unfold. He told a radio show that he has loved his time in Chicago but has never tested the open market before.
The left-field opening, if the Cubs choose not to re-sign Happ, would give the organization flexibility to pursue external options or promote from within. Happ’s defensive reputation could still draw interest from multiple clubs looking for a veteran outfielder.
Chicago’s front office has not publicly detailed its plans for Happ or the outfield. Decisions on arbitration-eligible players and free agents typically accelerate after the World Series.
Rizzo’s comments add an outside perspective from a former teammate who watched Happ develop from a top prospect into a multi-year Gold Glove winner. How the Cubs balance that track record against his 2026 offensive numbers will shape one of their more visible offseason choices.
