Whatever intangible reasons the Cubs might have for formally placing Addison Russell on the concussion injured list on Sunday, they gained one clear tangible advantage.
By assuring that Russell will have at least seven inactive days during the expanded-roster period, the club avoids paying him a $100,000 contract bonus.
The short-term injured lists rarely are used in September because no roster advantage is gained when all members of the 40-man roster are eligible, except in some strategic cases.
For example, the Cubs used the 10-day IL the first week of this month for Craig Kimbrel’s sore elbow as a means to allow infielder David Bote to return to the active roster. Bote had been optioned to the minors on Aug. 31 and by rule was not eligible to return for 10 days unless replacing a player formally put on the IL.
Russell, who was hit in the head by a pitch Sept. 8 in Milwaukee, was in baseball’s concussion protocol as the team went to San Diego for its next series, but the seven-day concussion IL was considered irrelevant because it had no impact on roster flexibility.
After the formal IL move was made Sunday, backdated the maximum three days to Thursday, team officials said it was about fully respecting and adhering to the protocol.
But nothing in the concussion rules mandated in the collective bargaining agreement required the move, and Major League Baseball was not involved in compelling it or otherwise suggesting it.
The only tangible result is that instead of finishing the season with 122 days on the active roster, Russell is assured of missing the 120-day threshold that would have triggered his last available roster bonus.
Which means a $3.1 billion franchise with the fourth-highest revenues in baseball will pay Russell $3.7 million this season instead of $3.8 million.
Neither the team nor Russell’s agent, Scott Boras, dispute the math.
But both also declined comment on the issue, the club standing by its earlier comments regarding its reasons.
There were no indications Tuesday that Russell would file a grievance with the union.
