DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 24: Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 24, 2020, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Ian Happ thanked the writer who decided to give him an MVP vote
The 2020 National League MVP Award was taken home by Freddie Freeman. But there were plenty of storylines at the bottom of the vote leaderboard.
The Chicago Cubs had two players receive 10th-place votes. Ryan Tepera got one on accident and outfielder Ian Happ showed up in the voting as well. Happ decided to take to Twitter to thank the lone writer who thought he was worthy of such an honor.
Happ thanks his supporter
Miami Marlins writer Joe Frisaro put Happ on his ballot and the outfielder made sure to hype him up, even though he writes about a different team.
Happ did not have a bad year, but an MVP vote is a bit surprising. He slashed .258/.361/.505 and hit 12 home runs in 2020. His WAR of 1.1 was the second-best mark in his career and the 26-year-old can now use this vote as some sort of leverage in contract negotiations moving forward.
2020 was such a unique season and the award voting figured to go along the same path. Happ is a young player looking to stick with the Cubs and remain a part of the core moving forward. Getting this vote of confidence from a writer outside the Chicago market shows there are people appreciating his talents at this point in time.
Happ is still under team control through the 2023 season and may gain some sort of leverage based on Frisaro’s vote. The Cubs could end up shedding salary and looking toward younger players to carry the team into the next stage of contention.
There is no shame in getting an MVP vote, regardless of the circumstances. Happ was above 1.0 in WAR during this shortened season and it is not his fault if the Cubs want to challenge this vote in future contract battles.