There will be a lot of eyes on the Atlanta Braves' front office during the offseason. A lot of sports pundits have already revealed their suggestions for the team. Some of them are reasonable, but some will leave fans scratching their heads. However, there is no denying that the Braves have a lot of work to do. The lack of starting pitching was glaring in the playoffs, and the offense disappeared. Those are the two main areas of focus for the front office this offseason.
Technically, the Braves have Mike Yastrzemski and Jurickson Profar as left-field options in 2027. However, Yaz didn't have the best season, and Profar's future is still undecided thanks to his consecutive PED suspensions. So the front office would be wise to consider alternatives.
We touched on how Seiya Suzuki could be a nice fit for the lineup next season not too long ago, but there is another Cubs outfielder who could be on Atlanta's radar.
Braves should consider taking a chance on Ian Happ to bolster their 2027 lineup
Ian Happ had one of the worst seasons of his 10-year career in 2026. He slashed .218/.326/.412 with a .738 OPS. Despite that poor line, Happ still hit 28 doubles, 24 home runs, and drove in 68 runs. The main issue he ran into was that he struck out a lot. Happ struck out 189 times, which gave him the 11th-worst strikeout rate in baseball at 29.7%. His 12.7% walk rate, however, was in the top 20 among all MLB hitters.
While he struggled with strikeouts, there's still some value there. Happ is a switch-hitter, and he is a great defender. He recorded a 1 OAA, a 5 on his arm value, and a 10 DRS. Happ's fielding run value (FRV) was also in the top 20 among outfielders at a 6. His arm strength is middle of the road, but the range is there.
However, a deal with Happ only makes sense if the Cubs do not offer him a qualifying offer. His performance last season doesn't warrant paying $23 million and losing a draft pick. Spotrac has his market value at around $20 million per season.
Perhaps Atlanta could look at snagging the outfielder on a two-year, $36 million contract. That's an AAV of $18 million per season, and they don't have to worry about losing the draft pick as well. So, any deal between both sides hinges on the qualifying offer. Even if the Braves hold on to Profar as their designated hitter, Happ is valuable in the field and would be a welcome addition. The team would just have to hope he can cut down on the strikeouts next season.
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