Ian Happ Rumors: Deadline Day

The last time we checked in on Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, it was when ESPN’s Jeff Passan revealed last Friday that the team is “likely to trade him.”  Happ, 28 in August, has a 122 wRC+ on the season.  He’s got about $2.4MM remaining on his contract this year, and will be eligible for arbitration for 2023.  If the Cubs want to trade the 2015 first-rounder prior to the offseason, they’ve got fewer than nine hours to get it done.  Here’s the latest:

• The Dodgers have looked at Happ, though apparently as a backup plan if they can’t land Juan Soto, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post.  Rookie James Outman has garnered the Dodgers’ last couple of left field starts to great success, and Chris Taylor’s rehab assignment from a foot fracture begins tonight.
• Last week, Robert Murray of Fansided noted that Happ had been “connected” to the Padres and Blue Jays.  The Padres are firmly in the Soto bidding, so Happ may serve as a backup plan for them as well.  The Jays’ outfield generally sets up as Lourdes Gurriel Jr., George Springer, and Teoscar Hernandez, with Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer providing backup.  Toronto tends to rest Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the DH spot when it’s not occupied by Alejandro Kirk.  While the Jays don’t seem to have a ton of room for Happ, MLB’s Jon Morosi notes that his ability to cover center field while Springer deals with a modest elbow injury is key.