Ian Happ, OF/UTIL, Chicago Cubs
When it comes to an actual long-term solution for the Phillies in terms of both defense and power in the outfield, the Cubs have someone who would fit in seamlessly if the Phillies choose to go star-hunting again.
That player is none other than Ian Happ. Starting off more as a super utilityman at the beginning of his career, Happ has become a fixture in the outfield in the past couple of seasons for the Cubs. He has flourished primarily as a left fielder, where he put his defensive abilities on full display, maintaining a fielding percentage close to .990 and winning the Gold Glove Award in each of the past two seasons.
More importantly, despite a lifetime career batting average of below .250, Happ gets on base a lot and possesses extra-base power. With an on-base percentage of .343 and OPS close to .800 for his career, he provides tremendous value and impact for a team focused on run production, along with his stellar defense. Happ represents the exact outfielder mold the Phillies have been looking for the past few years.
However, with a full no-trade clause in Happ’s contract, it will be up to Happ to decide if he would even consider moving out from the only place he has called home ever since making his MLB debut seven years ago. But with the Cubs coming up short constantly in the postseason in his last three playoff appearances, he may envy seeing how close the Phillies themselves have come to reaching and winning the World Series the past two seasons.
It might be enough to convince him to make the move if it gives him the best chance at winning what has eluded him in his career. And for the Phillies, Happ would be the ideal player to move top prospects such as Rojas and Abel/McGarry for to make their lineup complete for another championship run.