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Fansided

Chicago Cubs: The Addison Russell suspension could lead to offseason decisions

By Benjamin Chase

MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 05: Addison Russell #27 of the Chicago Cubs anticipates a pitch during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 05: Addison Russell #27 of the Chicago Cubs anticipates a pitch during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Cubs
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 1: Addison Russsell #27 of the Chicago Cubs during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cubs won 7-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

MLB announced a 40-game suspension for the Chicago Cubs shortstop on Wednesday. Could that change the plans for him going forward with the organization?

The conclusion of Major League Baseball’s investigation into the domestic violence allegations against Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell resulted in the shortstop receiving a 40-game suspension. Russell has accepted the suspension, and it will commence upon Opening Day 2019.

So what will the Chicago Cubs do with their young shortstop?

Russell is arbitration-eligible after this season, and it is unlikely he would get a huge raise from his $3.2 million salary in 2018 based on his .250/.317/.340 slash line in 2018 when he was on the field. However, he is still just going to be 25 entering 2019, and the Cubs need to figure out what this means for his future with the organization.

The Chicago Cubs are already dealing with the public relations mess of all of this, and this just a couple of years after many women’s groups were after the team for bringing in a player fresh off of a domestic violence suspension as their “major” trade deadline acquisition in the season they won the World Series. Needless to say, the Chicago Cubs may simply want to be rid of this issue, and therefore to be rid of Russell.

What are the options for the Chicago Cubs?

Really it boils down at the base level to two options – keep him or move him. Obviously, though, it’s more complicated than that.

The Chicago Cubs could keep Russell and bring a player in to cover the time that Russell is out. They could trade Russell to another team. Last, they could simply non-tender Russell.

We’re going to look at the team’s options if they choose to keep Russell in the next two pages, then cover the Chicago Cubs options if they do choose to move him and where they may find a trade partner. Finally, we will close with a couple of routes they could take if they do choose to jettison Russell in order to replace him.

Let’s start with options with him still in-house…

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