Cubs’ Russell suspended 40 games

Chicago Cubs infielder Addison Russell accepted a 40-game suspension Wednesday for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic-violence policy after a series of allegations made by his ex-wife.

Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the ban and said MLB had completed its investigation into the accusations made by Melisa Reidy. Russell had denied the allegations, which Reidy detailed in a blog post in September.

Russell’s unpaid suspension includes the 11 regular-season games he missed after being placed on administrative leave Sept. 21. Russell will be eligible to return May 3 against St. Louis, barring any postponements, and he will not appeal the suspension. He also will participate in an evaluation and treatment program.

The Cubs’ season ended Tuesday with a 2-1, 13-inning defeat to Colorado in the NL wild-card game. Russell was not active for the game.

Cubs general manager Theo Epstein said Joe Maddon will return for a fifth season as manager.

Buck Showalter was fired as manager of the Baltimore Orioles, who made three playoff appearances under his guidance but this year staggered through the worst season since the team moved from St. Louis to Baltimore in 1954.

A three-time AL Manager of the Year, Showalter ranks second on the Orioles’ career list with 669 victories, trailing Earl Weaver. Showalter took the job in August 2010 and orchestrated the resurgence of a team that endured 14 straight losing seasons.

The Orioles also fired executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette, who launched a belated rebuilding effort in July after the team failed miserably from the start.