July 22--The Chicago Cubs scouted Addison Russell thoroughly as he conducted his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury in Arizona before joining his Double-A Midland teammates prior to his trade from the Oakland Athletics last July.
It's likely that several teams will follow the same plan involving Javier Baez.
Baez, one of the Cubs' top minor league players, is expected to return to play by the end of this week in the Arizona League after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his left ring finger on June 7.
Baez was the Cubs' starting second baseman for the final two months of the 2014 season but didn't make the opening day roster. Baez was batting .314 with eight home runs for Triple-A Iowa at the time of his injury.
The Cubs are looking for pitching help, and Baez undoubtedly would attract several teams in exchange for a high caliber starting pitcher.
Meanwhile, an examination by hand specialist Don Sheridan in Arizona confirmed that catcher Miguel Montero has a left thumb sprain. Rest was prescribed for Montero, who likely will be re-examined in two weeks to determine how long it might be before he returns -- which might not be until the start of September.
