Feb. 28--Chicago Cubs third baseman Christian Villanueva is expected to be sidelined for a few months after breaking his right fibula Sunday.
Villanueva, 24, suffered the injury while leaping for a grounder during a workout, manager Joe Maddon said.
Villanueva is out of minor league options and faced the prospect of being squeezed with Kris Bryant entrenched on the major league roster and Jeimer Candelario expected to start the 2015 season as the starting third baseman at Triple-A Iowa.
Villanueva batted .259 with 18 home runs and 88 RBIs at Iowa last season.
Villanueva is expected to undergo surgery, Maddon said.
"Our guys spoke highly of him," Maddon said. "People were talking more glowingly of the advances he made."
