Cubs All-Star surprisingly mentioned as trade fit for American League contender

The Chicago Cubs are emerging as sellers, and no one on their roster is safe.

Cody Bellinger is reportedly circulating in trade discussions as of last week. Bellinger is signed with Chicago through this season but has a player option for 2025 and 2026.

Even players who were designed to be locked in long-term for the Cubs are now being perceived as available, however.

Jameson Taillon -- signed with Chicago through 2026 at $18M per year -- has been mentioned in deadline chatter.

Now it appears Ian Happ could also be floated as an asset for sale in July, with the Seattle Mariners waiting in the wings as a potential landing spot for the All-Star outfielder.

MLB Network insider Jon Morosi appeared on Seattle Sports Radio on Monday connecting Happ to Seattle.

"Ian Happ — while he is signed now — is someone who puts the ball in play," Morosi said. "The Cubs are full right now of underperforming players, and for that reason, if the Cubs and Mariners were to make a trade, whoever the Mariners bring back is probably going to be somebody whose numbers don’t look great this season," Morosi said. "But you need to look beyond the numbers and say, if they get to a different hitting environment … would the results change? … That’s where someone for me, like an Ian Happ (could be moved) ... depending on how things play out."

Happ is signed through 2026 with Chicago. In April 2023, he signed a three-year extension with the Cubs worth $61 million that notably includes a no-trade clause, meaning Happ could simply veto a trade to Seattle (or anywhere else) if he chose to.

Happ is slashing .229/ .345/ .419 with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs this season for Chicago.

He was selected at No. 9 overall in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft by the Cubs and has played his entire career thus far for the franchise.

More MLB: Cubs as deadline sellers? 'I still don't see it' says prominent analyst