Cubs Roster Moves: Willson Contreras Activated, Addison Russell Optioned to AAA

The Cubs have activated Willson Contreras after a minimum stay on the IL and have optioned Addison Russell to Triple-A Iowa in order to make room. Russell has been a source of controversy all season (and beyond), the latest iteration of which has been his lack of focus and an admission that he isn’t familiar with the team’s signs.

Joe Maddon publicly washed his hands of Russell’s mental errors, saying that he and the coaching staff have worked with the infielder constantly over the last several years and it’s gotten nowhere. The need to improve, Maddon said, now rests solely with Russell.

The Cubs could have used additional depth even with the emergence of Robel Garcia at second base, but Russell forced their hand on this. Perhaps another stint in Iowa will be the wakeup call he seems so desperately to need, though you’d have though the events of the past year would have provided several of those already.