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It seems like every year there is a new Cub who gets his name thrown into the trade rumor mill. Kyle Schwarber got the treatment in 2016 while nursing a blown out knee, Javier Baez had his name tossed around last year when he was struggling offensively, and while there have been a couple different names involved in trade talks this year, there is one that remains front and center.
Addison Russell.
Russell has been discussed as the centerpiece in the Cubs alleged pursuit of Baltimore Orioles star, Manny Machado.
4 yrs of Addison Russell vs. 4 months of Manny Machado.
Where do you stand?
We debate here: https://t.co/51JTahgZ5M pic.twitter.com/npVqOj16OY
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) May 18, 2018
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Breaking down trade proposals is definitely not my strong suit so I refuse to write anything trying to analyze the dollars and cents of the dozens of trade proposals I’ve read. What I can tell you is that out of all those trade proposals that I’ve seen, there has a grand total of zero that have intrigued me.
So few of the trade proposals have caught my eye because I just can’t see the Cubs giving up two or three players (including Russell) to land Machado as a possible rental. I get that Machado is a superstar and has been outspoken that his “heart is at shortstop” even though he’s relegated to playing third in Baltimore. I get that Machado and Albert Almora Jr. are childhood friends and Almora has already giving his OK (not that it matters) to get his friend to Chicago. I get that Russell hasn’t put up the numbers that Cubs fans have expected him to but what I don’t get is, why roll the dice to give up so much for a player who may not even re-sign with the Cubs next season?
If you’re thinking, “well they gave up so much to get Aroldis Chapman” Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein, explains that.
He shared the Chapman deal was “sort of a special circumstance in our mind” to address “a real need down the stretch and especially in October.” Epstein later went on to give the front office’s stance on giving up talent for possible rentals.
“As a rule, we will not be paying premiums for rentals.”
We all know Theo is the best goddamn mind in baseball so I wouldn’t look past that quote being lip service while he was wheeling and dealing to try and land Machado but I do appreciate the fact that he addressed the issue head on.
I also love the fact that while his name is dead center in trade talks as we speak, Addison Russell is absolutely red-hot right now.
Addison Russell is hitting .314/390/.490 (.880 OPS) since April 25.
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) May 16, 2018
Russell came up in the Oakland A’s farm system but was traded to the Cubs in the Jeff Samardjiza trade July 4, 2014 as a 20-year-old prospect who was struggling to adapt to the big leagues. Russell was thrust into the spotlight in Chicago that next season and hasn’t looked back since. Keep in mind that he’s still only 24-years-old and that he’s under team control until 2021 and you can tell Russell wants to play those years in Chicago.
Russell recently shared his thoughts on the swirling trade talks.
Addison Russell: "This is a great organization. The Cubs have stuck with me whenever I went through a lot of things. I think that would be sad if I had to leave, but I’m really thankful for the Cubs, for giving me an opportunity to play."
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) May 19, 2018
For the record, I think Manny Machado is a freaking stud and I’d love to see him in blue and white pinstripes. However, I can’t get behind giving up a player like Addison Russell to make that happen.
