Per Gordon Wittenmyer, the Chicago Cubs have non-tendered infielder Addison Russell.
Source: Addison Russell non-tendered by Cubs
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubMLB) December 2, 2019
Russell will now become a free agent, able to sign a deal with any MLB team.
Russell and Hultzen only Cubs not offered contracts
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 2, 2019
Russell slashes .237/.308/.391 in 2019 and .242/.312/.392 over his career. He once provided incredible defensive ability, but since 2016 his shoulder has seemed to give him more and more throwing issues. In 2019 he was primarily a second baseman with the emergence of Javier Baez, and has become expendable with David Bote and possibly Nico Hoerner on the roster.
In 2019, Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs tried a new approach, instead of cutting and run when it comes to players with off-field issues. But, time-and-time again it just didn’t seem like Russell was taking personal accountability for his actions. With a divided fanbase, and Russell not performing while creating a distraction, non-tendering the once highly thought of player was the best possible option for this organization.
Here is Theo’s explanation, via Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic.
Comments from Theo Epstein on the decision to non-tender Addison Russell: pic.twitter.com/43Vca6VLLt
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) December 3, 2019
