Yankees Trade Fan Favorite Infielder Ronald Torreyes To Cubs, Addison Russell’s Status In Question

The Chicago Cubs acquired infield do-it-all man Ronald Torreyes from the New York Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for a player to be named at a later time for cash considerations.

Cubs Get Infield Depth In Torreyes From Yankees

Torreyes batted .280 in 41 games in 2018 for the Yankees in replacement for several players early on, but was designated for assignment. Although so far it appears as a move to bolster depth within the infield for the 2016 national champion Cubs, the move raises several questions ahead Friday’s 7 p.m. EST deadline for tendering contracts to unsigned players. The final days ahead of the deadline are down to just over 24 hours, prompting a decision of whether or not to tender the arbitration-eligible Addison Russell, the team’s other infielder, a contract and to be able to retain his rights for 2019. He is projected to earn about $4.3 million through arbitration.

It may or may not be a coincidence of a need for roster reinforcement and Russell’s troubles, but the Cubs appear to be willing to bring back the star infielder despite his troubles. “Before he can play another game in a Cubs uniform, we need to know that he’s serious about self-improvement and has grown to the point where he can represent the club well,” said Cubs team President Theo Epstein on the matter.

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For the Yankees, the subtraction of Torreyes makes sense if the team were to make a move for a player like the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Manny Machado this offseason.