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Cubs to option Addison Russell to Triple-A when eligible to return

Iowa Cubs shortstop Addison Russell walks out of the dugout before a Triple-A baseball game against the Nashville Sounds, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa. Russell played in his first game of the season Wednesday for Iowa as he prepares to return to the Chicago Cubs following his domestic violence suspension. (Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)
Associated Press

SEATTLE – The Chicago Cubs will option shortstop Addison Russell to Triple-A Iowa when he’s eligible to return from his 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy later this week.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said the team wants to give Russell more time in the minors before rejoining the major league roster. Maddon said Tuesday before Chicago opened a two-game series in Seattle that he didn’t expect Russell to be in the minors for long.

Russell was suspended last fall after a series of allegations made by his ex-wife. Without getting into specifics, Russell said in February that he was accountable for his past actions and apologized for “the hurt and the pain” he caused.

Russell had been working out in Arizona, playing in extended spring training games and meeting with a counselor twice a week before joining Iowa last week to begin getting ready for the season.