Addison Russell Already Making Friends With Future Chicago Cubs Teammates
Addison Russell was the top prospect in the Oakland Athletic’s organization. Now he’s a key cog in a rebuilding plan the Chicago Cubs have undertaken that involves quite a few of the top prospects in all of the Major Leagues.
Addison was officially traded to the Cubs along with pitcher Dan Strailey, outfielder Billy McKinnon and a player to be named later. In exchange for Russell and the rest of the haul, the Athletics received two of the best performing pitchers in the National League in Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija.
Samardzija had been in talks with Chicago earlier this year in order to sign a possible extension, but most reports indicated those talks were dying a slow death. Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer and team president Theo Epstein have apparently brought those talks to an abrupt end with the trade of Chicago’s opening day starter.
While some people have voiced disdain over Epstein and Hoyer cutting bait for another year and trading away their best pitchers, the return in this trade allows for the argument that the trade was more than worth it.
According to MLB.com, not only is Addison Russell the A’s top prospect, but he was the 11th best prospect in all of baseball. Russell also weighs in as the fourth best shortstop in the minors.
Addison is the crowning jewel of this trade, but as with most trades, the question always arises as to whether or not Russell will be able to fit in with his new organization. If a couple of tweets between another Cubs farmhand and Addison can be believed, it appears he’ll fit in just fine.
Shortly after the trade, one of the Cubs top prospects in slugging third baseman Kris Bryan took to Twitter to welcome his future teammate.
Welcome to the Cubs @Addison_Russell!! #stud
— Kris Bryant (@KrisBryant_23) July 5, 2014
Russell took notice and quickly made it known that he was excited to be teaming up with Bryant as well.
@KrisBryant_23 Thanks buddy! Told myself in the fall league it would be great to play with you again someday. Pretty stoked about the move
— Addison Russell (@Addison_Russell) July 5, 2014
Neither Bryant nor his new teammate are guaranteed to ever play in Wrigley. Top prospects flame out all the time. Still, as good as this duo is, it seems more than likely that Kris Bryant and Addison Russell will be manning Wrigley Field together at some point in the very near future.
