One controversial name elicited blowback when the Cubs listed the 2016 alumni set to attend this weekend’s Cubs Convention, which will include a reunion of the 2016 World Series champions: Addison Russell.
The former Cubs middle infielder served a 40-game suspension in 2018 for violating MLB’s domestic abuse policy, when he was placed on administrative leave after an investigation into physical and emotional abuse allegations detailed by his ex-wife, Melisa Reidy-Russell.
“Every player who made a significant contribution to the 2016 team was invited to participate in Opening Ceremony at Cubs Convention,” the team said in a statement to the Sun-Times. “The organization commented publicly in 2019 on Addison taking accountability, serving his suspension and completing his extensive rehabilitation process before coming back to play for the Cubs later that season.”
During his suspension, Russell went through league-mandated treatment and voluntary counseling. The Cubs allowed him to rejoin the team in May of 2019, after he’d served the MLB-issued discipline. They cut ties with him the following December, declining to tender him a contract for 2020.
Acquired by the Cubs as a minor-leaguer in 2014, Russell spent his entire major-league career with the Cubs, from 2015-2019 and was named an All-Star in 2016. He continued his baseball career in South Korea and Mexico.