Ian Happ scouting report and fit with the Mariners
The Gold Glove outfielder is somebody the Mariners have coveted in the past, but does he still fit on this roster? Let's take a look at Ian Happ and his fit with Seattle.
A few months ago the Mariners had talks with the Chicago Cubs about outfielder Ian Happ, with an interest in him being a deadline acquisition for the Mariners. While they didn’t get the deal done at the deadline last year, the possibility that they could acquire him still remains.
The Cubs are in an interesting place as an organization and have some time to go before they would likely be competitive again in any fashion. They could choose to offload a few pieces, especially if they don’t feel like they would have the capability to re-sign guys on expiring deals.
Happ has been an above average player every year of his career, and could provide some left field defense the Mariners have sorely missed over the last decade-plus.
Happ finished up the 2022 season with one of the best of his career so far, slashing .271/.342/.440 for Chicago. He also put up a 120 WRC+, a mark that he had reached twice in his career already. The 28 year old has put up a 100 or greater WRC+ every year of his MLB career going back to 2017 with his career high of 132 coming in the shortened 2020.
He posted the lowest K% of his career this past season at 23.2 percent, while posting a walk rate above league average. Happ has hit 10 or more home runs in every season in the major leagues, but at this point you can pencil him in for 15-25 home runs per season.
He is a switch-hitter as well, and hits well from both sides. He does have more pop from the left side, with a more contact oriented approach from the right hand side. Jerry Dipoto has been vocal about adding a left handed element to this lineup, and Happ hit 15 of his 17 blasts from that side in 2022.
Overall he is an above average player offensively that would add diversity to this offense as a switch hitter. He has been an above average offensive performer every year of his career, and has been more consistent as the years have gone on. He would add length and an offensive upgrade to this lineup.
In addition he ranked in the 79th percentile in Outs Above Average according to Baseball Savant, putting him in the top 25% of defensive left fielders in baseball. He was even given a Gold Glove this past season, which would be a massive upgrade over Jesse Winker.
While he played most of his games in left field in 2022, Happ has played second base and centerfield in the past. This would give the team a somewhat cable backup over Sam Haggerty and Dylan Moore if Julio Rodríguez misses time.
Happ has one more year of control remaining, and if the Cubs make additions to their roster could be reluctant to part ways. There have even been rumblings about the two sides trying to get an extension done.
Seattle was interested in him at the deadline last year and the Cubs are several years away still, making him expendable for the right price. If Dipoto and the front office get the right deal, Ian Happ could be an interesting addition to this Mariners roster for the 2023 season.