The Latest Breaking News from Ian Happ

One month ago, Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts made clear the organization’s path forward in the offseason would include financial flexibility.

Could Nico Hoerner or Ian Happ sign an extension? Could Drew Smyly or Wade Miley be back next year?

How well do you know how the Cubs and Sox did from June 21 to Sept. 22?

CHICAGO — The Phillies’ Nick Maton stepped up to the plate with two outs in the second inning on Thursday. Jean Segura was on first base. Maton took one pitch, and then another, and then one more, which he tried to bunt, but pulled his bat back.

The Cubs’ Ian Happ says players will adapt to new rules for 2023, but Mark Leiter Jr. is not too happy about them.

CHICAGO — If anyone expected a great outcry from players after Major League Baseball announced major rule changes for 2023 on Friday — a pitcher’s clock, enlarged bases and severe restrictions on defensive shifts — well, just take the temperature of P.J. Higgins’ reaction as an example.

The Chicago Cubs have nothing to prove in the remaining 25 games of the 2022 season, but they plan on playing out the schedule anyway.

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals had been held to one run or none 12 times this season while ace right-hander Miles Mikolas had been on the mound.

“You can see a lot of players have success out there, but nobody respects them how they respect ‘the Machine,’ ” said the Cubs’ Franmil Reyes, Pujols’ fellow Dominican. “That means a lot to all of us.”