Addison Russell Is Suspended 40 Games Over Domestic Violence Accusations

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Addison Russell has been on administrative league since Sept. 21 after his ex-wife accused him of years of physical and emotional abuse.CreditCreditJon Durr/Getty Images

By Jeff Arnold

Oct. 3, 2018

CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell was suspended for 40 games on Wednesday for violating Major League Baseball’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. His ex-wife made a series of allegations against him in a blog post last month that prompted M.L.B. to place Russell on administrative while it investigated the accusations.

The punishment was announced by Commissioner Rob Manfred, who indicated that M.L.B. had concluded its investigation into the matter and that Russell had accepted the suspension. The ban is retroactive to Sept. 21, and Russell missed the Cubs’ final 11 games. Their season ended on Tuesday in a 13-inning, 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies in the National League wild-card game.

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Initially, Russell denied the allegations made by his ex-wife, Melisa Reidy, but in a statement on Wednesday he said he had “gained better understanding” of the situation.

Theo Epstein, the team’s president of baseball operations, said he wasn’t sure whether Russell would ever wear a Cubs uniform again.

“Domestic violence is everyone’s problem,” Epstein said during a news conference at Wrigley Field. “Because of that, we all have an obligation to be part of the solution as well. Discipline, in a case like this, is part of the solution going forward.”

Epstein added: “I think it’s our obligation as a club, my obligation, to see what we can do better going forward, to see what we can do to prevent this from ever happening again, to reach out to the victim and try to learn from it.”

In her blog post last month, Reidy described years of physical and emotional abuse by Russell. Within 12 hours of the post, M.L.B. announced that Russell had been placed on administrative leave.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Reidy said that she was relieved the investigation was over and that she would turn her focus to helping other women.

Russell, 24, said in a statement of his own: “I have concluded it’s in the best interest of my family to accept M.L.B.’s proposed resolution. I wish my ex-wife well and hope we can live in peace for the benefit of our child.”

Russell, who helped lead the Cubs to a 2016 World Series title, hit .250 in 130 games this season with five home runs and 38 runs batted in.

Following the domestic violence policy, Russell will participate in a confidential evaluation and treatment program.

But Epstein said that it would be equally important for the Cubs to reach out to Reidy, and he said that would happen “very quickly.” Epstein did not offer a timetable for when the Cubs would make a final determination on Russell’s future with the team, but said he felt it was important not to completely dismiss Russell immediately.

Barring any postponements, Russell would be eligible to return May 3, 2019.

Epstein said that the Cubs, in addition to reaching out to Reidy, would support Russell in “getting the help he needs to make sure this never happens again.”

Epstein said part of his discussions with Russell would include making sure he understood what accepting M.L.B.’s punishment meant.

Now that the investigation has concluded, Epstein said, the team’s obligation extends beyond a fact-finding mission.

“We have to understand with all our words and actions going forward — whether we know it or not — we’re sending messages to our fans,” said Epstein, who added, “I honestly, personally think that the most important thing going forward is to be part of the solution.”