(670 The Score) Carlos Gonzalez is a Cub or at least will be after he knocks the rust off with a few swings at Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs signed the 33-year-old former All-Star as a low risk extra outfield hand, in part covering for the ongoing and indefinite absence of Ben Zobrist for personal reasons.

The fact that the Cubs chose an option other that Ian Happ at this point might tell us that the 2015 first-round pick is still trying to find his way through the developmental wilderness, however, and that's a more significant story for a player who shone as an MLB rookie two years ago before regressing steeply in 2018.

Happ's 167 strikeouts in 462 plate appearances in 2018 were alarming, and the issue continued through this spring training enough to force the decision that he go back to the lab in the minors. The tightly wound Happ reacted emotionally to the setback but was eventually convinced that this was the right move for him long term and committed himself to a reboot.

But the results just aren't there, yet.

Happ is slashing just .243/.359/.432 over 185 at bats in 52 Triple-A games this season. And while a .792 OPS doesn't seem terrible, it's important to provide context regarding how that stacks up where he's playing. The Pacific Coast League is a circuit ruled by hitters more than pitchers, with 14 batters currently carrying an OPS over 1.000, 30 at .900 or higher and 70 over .800. Of 108 players listed as league-leader qualified at MiLB.com, Happ's number puts him 72nd.

He's continuing to draw walks, ranking eighth in the PCL with 31. But he's also 10th in strikeouts with 58, still evincing contact problems. We know Happ was one of those who expressed unhappiness with the tutelage of hitting coach Chili Davis during his exit interview last fall, and it's possible he's a longer-term reclamation than once believed.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer stressed such patience when he appeared on the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 the Score on Thursday.

"The most important thing is we sent him down just to make sure he can make adjustments to his left-handed swing," Hoyer said. "He’s working hard at that. The most important thing is once you start that process and you start making those changes, you want to see those to fruition. We want him to come back to the Cubs with a fully formed set of adjustments. Because we think he’s going to be a Cub and be a big leaguer for a long, long time."

That might be absolutely true, and it also can be an attempt to jawbone his market value as high as possible as trade season approaches and a first-place team is desperate for bullpen arms that can miss more bats. There's no doubt Happ is worth considerably less than he was after breaking in with a season of .253/.328/.514 and 24 homers in 2017, but the pedigree still carries enough weight that he could bring something material in return.

It's far from the ideal outcome for a defensively versatile top pick who so recently received Rookie of the Year votes, but a franchise still in the middle of its competitive window -- and one that also says it lacks the liquidity to spend for help -- might be forced to pull the plug on any remaining potential.