Chicago Cubs: Addison Russell rendering Manny Machado trade irrelevant.

Can it continue?

The production makeup of the Cubs lineup this season is very interesting. Guys like Jason Heyward, who do not always produce, have stepped up considerably. For Russell, as a guy who falls in this tier, the question is whether or not the consistent production will continue.

The Orioles will more than likely request the moon if the club decides to ship their star player off to a new team. Russell, who until the last month, had found himself as a shoe-in as part of a package, if a trade decidedly moved forward.

Now, however, the Cubs need to stop and take a breath and maybe a step back from this notion. Moving Russell in a Machado deal will also garner much of the Cubs farm system following Russell to Baltimore.

Next: Heyward silencing his critics with his play this season

As ‘Addi’ continues his above-average production, he will hopefully continue to balance, the Cubs find themselves in a new mode, one with less chaos, the team would be wise to hold on to Russell and keep to help him develop. For now, however, Addison Russell sure is doing an excellent job shutting that narrative entirely down.