MLB is a business: it implies decisions and situations that players sometimes don’t want to experience.
It’s often sad and unfair, but it’s the nature of the game, especially when there are trades involved.
The trade deadline involves dozens of players traveling, saying goodbye to teammates, managers, and coaches; and long-term plans being changed.
Players are human beings, too: they settle in a specific place, get married, have children, and develop a relationship with fans, only for a trade to force changes.
They have to relocate, look for a new school for the children (and seeing them leave behind their friends, too) and get every member of the family on board with the new location.
It’s often not as simple as it seems.
Happ Doesn’t Want To Leave The Cubs
For the rebuilding Chicago Cubs, trading their best players has been – or at least looked – fairly easy in the last couple of years.
Their current potential trade pieces include Ian Happ and Willson Contreras.
Happ, talking to Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami, described what he is feeling ahead of the deadline.
“Listening to Ian Happ, one thing is clear: He loves Chicago, he loves Wrigley Field, he loves the fans, and he loves playing for the Chicago Cubs. I really feel for him. He’s a good dude. Called today a ‘lonely place’ before the trade deadline,” Cerami tweeted.
Listening to Ian Happ, one thing is clear: He loves Chicago, he loves Wrigley Field, he loves the fans, and he loves playing for the Chicago Cubs.
I really feel for him. He's a good dude. Called today a "lonely place" before the trade deadline.
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) August 2, 2022
Happ, who is under control for an additional season after 2022, is slashing .279/.360/.436 with nine home runs and a .796 OPS.
He is not a lock to be traded, but odds are high: he knows it.
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when we have to bid farewell to the places and people that made us happy.
NEXT: Marcus Stroman Comments On The Juan Soto Deal