Cubs News: Maddon on Russell in trade rumors: "He didn't ask for it" |
The constant barrage of Manny Machado rumors hit the local media on Tuesday as Cubs players and manager Joe Maddon answered questions about the trade speculation involving players like youngster Addison Russell.
"You talk about a 24-year-old hitter. How about a 24-year-old human being having to try to process all of that," Maddon said about the rumors involving his shortstop. "Whether he’s hearing it or not from anywhere here, it’s mom, dad, brother, friend, former coach, on the phone asking, what’s this all about?" Maddon knows that Russell didn't ask for any of this. It's just the nature of the business. "He has to be inundated with that conversation. He didn’t ask for it. He’s just doing his job. He would be robotic if he was not (bothered),” he said. "If he was 7-10 years into the league, and something like this was been bantered about, not nearly as much. But the age he’s at, the experience level he’s at, it can’t help but have an impact." Maddon wants Russell to know that he supports him and wants him to try not to let the outside noise bother him. "We just have to continue to nurture him here and talk to him all the time. There are certain things you can’t control. You can’t control what’s being said. You can control how you react to it. That’s the best thing we can encourage him to do, and he’ll get our support." Russell knows that he is a young ballplayer and should get better over time. "I am only 24 years old," he said. "I think that the ceiling's still pretty high for me. I haven't even been able to play up to my standards yet. So, that's really comforting for me, to see where I'm at right now and ultimately seeing where I could be in a couple years." In 2018, Russell is batting .255 with a homer and 10 RBIs. Joe understands the Machado talk is awkward for Russell. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/3vSZykhtPY
