Cubs All-Star outfielder Ian Happ appeared on baseball podcast Foul Territory this week and candidly discussed the trade rumors that swirled around him leading up to the 2022 trade deadline.
Happ, who had one season of team control at the time of last year's deadline, was widely expected to be moved by the rebuilding Cubs to a contender in need of an outfield bat.
Instead, Happ stayed put, and just last week inked a three-year, $61 million extension to remain on the North Side of Chicago.
Happ was asked by former teammate Jason Kipnis how close he was to being traded last year, while also asking where the possible trade destinations were.
The Cubs outfielder brought up New York, Atlanta, Toronto and San Diego as potential trade destinations for him, while mentioning the Padres' acquisition of Juan Soto as evidence of their presence in the outfield trade market.
"I don't know how close it got, but I definitely felt like I wasn't going to be in Chicago," Happ said.
MLB
Happ added that it was difficult for him to play games leading up to the deadline at Wrigley, fully anticipating that he would be traded.
Despite the preparations the All-Star made to play elsewhere, he told Kipnis he's "pretty pumped it didn't happen."