Former World Series Champ & All-Star Signs In Korea

He was a key part of the Chicago Cubs World Series championship in 2016, but has been out of the major leagues since 2019 for a variety of reasons. Now about to turn 29, infielder Addison Russell is heading back to Korea to continue his baseball career.

Kiwoom has re-signed Eric Jokisch for $1.5 million and Addison Russell for $700K https://t.co/vVqoHhKKGn

— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) December 12, 2022

Russell will get $700,000 to play for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO. He had previously played for the same team in 2020. 

The Cubs non-tendered Russell after the 2019 season. In 2018, he was suspended by MLB for 40 games for violating its Domestic Violence Policy, after an investigation into accusations made by Russell’s ex-wife. 

Russell's final season in the Windy City was his 3rd straight disappointing season following his 2016 All-Star campaign. That year he hit 21 HR with 95 RBIs and a .738 OPS, playing 148 games as the starting shortstop. He also drove in 9 runs in the Cubs' thrilling 7-game World Series victory over the then-Cleveland Indians. 

He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons playing in Mexico, where he had plenty of success; this past season, he slugged 25 HR with a 1.011 OPS across stints with two teams.