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Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell Sent Down By Cubs

(CBS) The Cubs made some attention-grabbing roster moves Monday as spring training nears its end.

Chicago has optioned second baseman Javier Baez to Triple-A Iowa to begin the season after weeks of debate of where the talented-but-strikeout-prone youngster would start the season. In expected news, the Cubs have also assigned elite prospects Kris Bryant and Addison Russell to minor league camp.

The moves are different procedurally speaking because Baez is on the 40-man roster and Bryant and Russell aren't.

Baez, 22, was the member of the trio with the best chance to make the Opening Day roster. Cubs manager Joe Maddon has lauded Baez for his defense and baserunning, but he's struggled this spring at the plate, hitting .173 with a .449 OPS. He's struck out 20 times with just three walks in 52 at-bats. Baez also had just one homer and one RBI.

After being called up in early August, Baez hit .169 with nine homers and 20 RBIs in 52 games at the MLB level last season. He also struck out 95 times in 229 plate appearances.

Bryant heading back to Triple-A was expected because if the Cubs delay his promotion by about two weeks, they'll control his contract for an extra year -- through 2021 instead of 2020. Still, he's been at the center of a firestorm in large part because his agent, Scott Boras, has taken the Cubs to task in the national media for a demotion he saw coming, challenging whether the organization truly wants to win. Bryant's tear through the Cactus League -- nine homers, 15 RBIs and a 1.652 OPS -- also turned more heads. Bryant, 23, is a third baseman, but his future may be in the outfield, a position he just recently started playing a bit in spring training.

Most everyone viewed the 21-year-old Russell, a shortstop, as needing some more minor league seasoning. He finished 2014 at Double-A after being acquired by the Cubs from the Athletics in a July 4 trade. It's unclear what minor league level Russell will begin the season at.

Russell hit .295 with 13 homers, 45 RBIs and an .858 OPS in the minor leagues last season. He batted .324 with one homer, six RBIs and an .845 OPS in 12 Cactus League games this spring.

Chicago now has 35 players on its spring roster: 18 pitchers, four catchers, six infielders and seven outfielders.

The Cubs open the regular season by hosting the Cardinals on Sunday.

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