New York, NY

Chicago Cubs third baseman Ian Stewart is serving a 10-game suspension without pay for his Twitter rants against the team, thereby violating the loyalty clause in his contract.

He twitted that he would probably never return to the Cubs who are not expected to offer him a tender.

Stewart, 28, added that the Cubs should just release him and let him sign elsewhere. His agent, Larry Reynolds, echoed the same sentiments. But Stewart later contradicted himself, twitting that he wouldn't just ask for his release when he is earning $2 million per season.

He also noted that manager Dale Sveum, who is the decision maker, doesn't like him.

Sveum disagreed with that notion, saying Stewart simply failed to prove he belongs to the big league level.

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said they are working for Stewart to leave the team while giving the Cubs salary relief from his one-year, $2 million deal.

Epstein also said Stewart had his chance to be a free agent and chose not to.

He said that if Stewart would excel at the Triple-A level, the team would consider calling him back.

Stewart has since apologized to the club.

Last year, Stewart hit .201 with a .292 on-base percentage while hitting five homers and driving in 17 runs. He was limited to just 55 games because of a wrist injury, and was slowed down during spring training by a left quad injury this year, keeping him off the Opening Day roster.

He is hitting .168 with five homers and 20 RBIs in Triple-A. 

 

 

Article: "Ian Stewart Suspended by Cubs for Twitter Rants"