Bleacher Bums Forum

Ron, thanks for good points.  I hadn't been looking very carefully at the volume. 

I'm not suggesting he might not be able to contribute offensively.  Maybe yes, maybe no?  I don't know whether he might clear 100 OPS+, and don't imagine Hoyer knows either.  I've got no problem with taking a shot; but wouldn't count on him being an asset bat.

Uncertainty goes with Russell, too.  Not defensively:  we know if he's healthy his defense will be *really* good.  But bat-wise, he's been OPS+ 74-84-94-91.  So who know whether he'll be on the 74 end or the 94 end of his career range?  With pitchers having a full book on him by now, and his confidence shattered , I'd guess he's more likely to be nearer the 74 end than the 94 end, and maybe he'll continue to get worse each year.  But who knows, maybe some miracle will happen and he'll have a career year and go >94, and maybe become only slightly below average as a hitter?  Who knows?  I don't, Hoyer doesn't, nobody does. 

That 2nd middle-infield position is up for grabs, and we don't know how any of Tulo, Russell, Bote, Zobrist, Descalso, or even Happ will hit.  Would be wrong to promise anything more than an opportunity to Tulo.  But it's not like there isn't an opportunity. 

The fact that Toronto waived him, despite dozens of committed millions, suggests they who know him and his health best aren't super optimistic that he'll be able to become a good hitter again.  But if the Cubs feel otherwise, it's not like Russell is such a sure thing that they couldn't consider other take-a-shot alternatives.