Willson Contreras, Ian Happ Not Traded by Cubs at 2022 MLB Deadline

As Tuesday's 6 p.m. drew near, the Chicago Cubs were under more scrutiny than any other team. The deadline was approaching.

A number of veterans who could contribute elsewhere in a playoff race and bring back prospects for a rebuilding club were featured in the Cubs' rebuild. They were a natural seller with Willson and Ian as their primary trade candidates.

It's much less for that.

One of the bigger surprises around the league was reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The decision not to trade Contreras, who is scheduled for free agency after this season, is surprising. If the Cubs re-sign him, he won't be in his prime when they contend again.

It's against the club's recent decisions to not re-sign Kyle Schwarber after the 2020 season and to trade franchise icons Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant last year.

They were part of the team that broke the World Series title droughts in Chicago. The sentimental connections didn't make much of a difference because they hadn't been involved in previous decisions.

Even though he could have helped a catcher-needy contender and possibly allowed the Cubs to replenish their farm system, the three-time All-Star is still a member of the only Major League Baseball team he has ever known.

The decision to keep him is not much of a surprise since he is 27 years old and is in the middle of his first All-Star season. He could be a big part of the team for years to come and may even command a smaller salary to re-sign than Contreras eventually will.

He made it clear that he wouldn't be leaving after the deadline.

Ian Happ @ihapp_1

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He will play out the rest of the season for the third-place team in the National League Central despite being a backup outfielder.