PITTSBURGH -- One day after their replacement shortstop for Javier Baez made a critical ninth-inning error in a late collapse to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Chicago Cubs recalled infielder Addison Russell while demoting outfielder Albert Almora Jr. to Triple-A Iowa.
"There was going to be fewer at-bats against left-handed pitching," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "Getting at-bats in Iowa, before Sept. 1, is a good thing."
Though the move looks like a direct reaction to Thursday's loss in which backup David Bote booted a ball, in reality, the Cubs were thinking of the switch anyway.