The Chicago Cubs have six arbitration-eligible players on their roster this offseason: Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber, Willson Contreras and Albert Almora, Jr. Bryant, Baez, Schwarber, and Contreras are locks to receive contract offers, leaving Russell and Almora as candidates to be non-tendered. Will either of them be back next year?
It’s hard to say for sure. This front office has been unyielding in their loyalty to ‘their’ guys – and both Almora and Russell fit the bill. Chicago selected Almora in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft and developed Russell after acquiring him in the 2014 trade that sent Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija to Oakland.