The main focus in the trade with the New York Mets should rightfully be on right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes, but the Chicago Cubs also addressed a major problem with the offense. Ian Happ has been terrible since early June, and the switch-hitter has been even worse when he’s had to face left-handed pitching, so the Cubs traded for his new platoon partner, Tyrone Taylor.
Happ has always been much better as a left-handed hitter throughout his career, but heading into 2026, he was at least serviceable from the right side, posting a 96 wRC+. Back in 2022, Happ had a 126 wRC+ vs. lefties, an outlier as he’s been just below average every other season. He’s been a disaster as a right-handed hitter so far this season, getting to the point where he’s unplayable.
In 125 plate appearances against left-handed pitching in 2026, Happ is slashing .158/.232/.298 with a 34.4 K% and a 48 wRC+. Since May 20, Happ is only 8-for-60 vs. LHP with 25 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances. So, you absolutely love to see that the Cubs’ newest outfielder mashes left-handed pitchers.
Taylor has a slash line of .301/.311/.589 with five home runs and a 146 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers before he was traded to the Cubs.
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We’re already seeing evidence that Cubs manager Craig Counsell will platoon Happ based on the starting pitching matchups. Taylor hasn’t been activated to the roster just yet, so on Monday night the Cubs called up Kevin Alcántara, who is in the starting lineup with Happ on the bench against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Cubs paid a high price in the trade with the Mets, sending top-100 prospect Jefferson Rojas for Holmes and Taylor. So, you would think that they intend to use Taylor as much as possible to give the lineup a better chance against left-handed pitchers.
We’ll see if Taylor gets his first start with the Cubs on Tuesday, when Tarik Skubal makes his Dodgers debut at Wrigley Field.
