Chicago Cubs: Addison Russell situation has big-time roster implications

Accusations made against Addison Russell have sent shockwaves through the Chicago Cubs. Both in the short and long-term, there are decisions to make.

At least for the time being, the Chicago Cubs will look to mix and match to fill the void at shortstop. But, then again, it’s hard to call it much of a void given you’ve got Daniel Murphy, Ben Zobrist, David Bote and Javier Baez available to man the middle infield.

Add Mike Freeman to the mix, as well. The Cubs called called up the infielder yesterday to replace Russell on the active roster. For the rest of the regular season, he gives the Cubs a good defensive middle infielder. However, Freeman isn’t much of a hitter. It’s pretty much a guarantee he won’t make any potential postseason roster.

Last year, Freeman played in 15 games with Chicago. In 27 plate appearances, he picked up just four hits and a pair of walks (.160/.222/.240). Until yesterday, Freeman spent all of this season in Triple-A Iowa, where he played in 78 games. He hit .274/.330/.396.

But Freeman hasn’t played in a game since Iowa’s season ended at the beginning of the month. He had been working out with Clemson near his home. His wife is expecting their first child around Oct. 1.

Chicago Cubs: Relying on Zobrist & Bote behind Baez at short?

If the Cubs are seriously considering carrying pinch runner Terrance Gore on the postseason roster, carrying Freeman, as well, would put two position players on the Cubs bench who aren’t much of a threat as batters.

If Chicago doesn’t carry Freeman on the postseason roster, the closest thing they will have to a backup shortstop would either be David Bote or Ben Zobrist. Bote played has played two games, totaling 10 innings at shortstop in the Major Leagues this year. In Triple-A, he has played shortstop in 15 games, spanning 117 innings.

Zobrist used to play a fair amount of shortstop. He has started 196 games at short in his career.

However, he hasn’t played shortstop at all this year. In 2017, he played just 11 innings at shortstop. So resorting to Zobrist at shortstop  in the playoffs isn’t ideal – especially alongside a sub-par defensive guy like Murphy.

Chicago Cubs: If you stay internal, is Ian Happ the answer?

If Russell isn’t part of the organization next season, does that increase the Cubs’ attempts to sign someone like Machado as a free agent? Perhaps, but there will be a lot of competition for the former Orioles star this winter.

Even if Javier Baez becomes the Cubs’ full-time shortstop, the front office will have to put a plan in place for the other middle infield position, second base. Daniel Murphy is a free agent at the end of this season. He clearly was the kind of available bat that you are willing to pickup for very little during a playoff chase. However, his poor defense and the amount of salary he is going to demand makes him unlikely to resign with Chicago.

Zobrist will be in the last year of his four-year contract with the Cubs next season – and age 38.. Maybe the Cubs can ask Zobrist to hold down the everyday starting second base job for one season with frequent days off. But after the 2019 campaign, the Cubs need to be ready to move on to someone younger than Zobrist.

Tommy La Stella and Ian Happ could help fill in there. However, the Cubs don’t appear to be comfortable with the defense of either one of them at second base. La Stella has been playing more third base than second this season. Happ has only played three innings at second base this season. Perhaps with one regular season and two offseasons to prepare, the team might try to groom Happ as the Cubs’ second baseman of the future. But the thinking clearly was not headed in that direction this year.

The days of having Starlin Castro, Baez and Russell in the major leagues with Gleyber Torres in the minor leagues are long over. The Cubs made their decision in the middle infield. It was supposed to be Russell and Baez. But with that future now far from certain, this team is going to have some big decisions to make in the months and years to come.