Headlines

  • Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez
  • Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff
  • Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Bobby Jenks Passes Away
  • Braves Release Alex Verdugo
  • Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Tommy La Stella To Report To Minors

By Jeff Todd | August 17, 2016 at 3:03pm CDT

Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella has agreed to report for his optional assignment, as manager Joe Maddon announced in an appearance on 670 The Score (as Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune was among those to report). Manager Joe Maddon says that he’ll play tonight for the team’s Double-A affiliate.

La Stella, 27, had previously been weighing whether or not to accept his demotion off of the big league roster. As explained in detail at that link, the delay was not tied to any dispute or attempt to protest Chicago’s decision to option him. Rather, La Stella explained that he has previously considered retirement and was not certain whether he wanted to continue to play elsewhere in the organization (or, indeed, any other organization).

The Cubs have shown plenty of patience over the last several days while expressing hope that La Stella would ultimately take the assignment. Losing the versatile performer and solid hitter would have left the team one left-handed bat shy of its preferred array of available players, though it had not yet acted in any attempt to replace him.

La Stella has been quite a useful performer for Chicago since coming over in a trade from the Braves. This year, he owns a .295/.388/.457 batting line over 122 plate appearances. But with a loaded Cubs roster returning to health, there wasn’t space for him, leading to the move. Presumably, the team would’ve intended to bring La Stella back up when rosters expand in September, though the current path back isn’t clear.

Share 0 Retweet 4 Send via email0

Chicago Cubs Tommy La Stella

Braves Designate Mike Aviles For Assignment
Main
Colin Rea To Undergo PRP Treatment Instead Of TJ Surgery
View Comments (35)
Post a Comment

35 Comments

  1. guille

    9 years ago

    I think there is a place in some team´s 25-man roster for him. I mean, the Cubs are loaded but he still is a solid player to have.

    Reply
    • kent814

      9 years ago

      He has stated that he only wants to play for the cubs and would retire rather than play for someone else

      Reply
      • Ray Ray

        9 years ago

        Stating it right now and meaning it in the off season are two very different things. I think he just didn’t want to go to the minors because he didn’t deserve it. and didn’t want to be “that guy” that pointed to another player on the team that deserved a demotion more than him.

        Reply
      • thebare

        9 years ago

        With loyalty and LH pinch hitter with a 293 avg plus Szrur on the RH pinch hitting. Why did Theo cut him ? He’ll cut Miggy training over. Or being Canderla and cut Coglin also those 2 won’t hurt Chemistry. Only thing we are missing that we had earlier. and getting again this August 16-2 could be better with LaStella

        Reply
        • Kayrall

          9 years ago

          wat

          Reply
  2. crazymountain

    9 years ago

    The team did not make an attempt to find another LH bat? Seems like there were several reports of the Cubs trying to trade for Riddick….

    Reply
    • Ry.the.Stunner

      9 years ago

      Those “reports” were unfounded and came about a week before the trade deadline. La Stella was optioned a day or two before the trade deadline.,

      Reply
    • Kayrall

      9 years ago

      They quickly found out that he was unavailable due to fighting nocturnal monsters on a far away planet.

      Reply
      • armsiderun14

        9 years ago

        If I could put the “thumbs up” emoji here, I would. Bravo on that reference

        Reply
      • deadmanonleave

        9 years ago

        Lol…. I got it, at least!

        Reply
  3. ddub7

    9 years ago

    About Time!

    Reply
  4. Mikel Grady

    9 years ago

    He is a great bat to have off the bench and can play spot starts at 3b. Cubs have been patient with him everytime he goes on disabled list which is often .

    Reply
    • thebare

      9 years ago

      No more starting maybe next year with new team best LH PH in the NL why he got demoted I can’t figure that out can anyone Hoyer ?

      Reply
  5. eriv80

    9 years ago

    Chris Coughlan is so “good”, you can’t take him off the roster. rme (rolling my eyes)

    Reply
    • bradthebluefish

      9 years ago

      Right!? Sad to see the Cubs pick Coughlan over La Stella, but so far they’ve been able to keep both. That’s a win alone.

      Reply
    • king34

      9 years ago

      Coughlan is out of options and La Stella is not. You either send La Stella to minors and keep Coughlan with big-league club and take both on the expanded roster when September comes or you lose one of them, if I understand correctly.

      Reply
      • ray_derek

        9 years ago

        Correct, which is exactly why the Cubs did what they did.

        Reply
      • thebare

        9 years ago

        But Coglin .193 would clear waiver very easy but but might be good in playoff but no Miggy loves his hustle but he to old to catch anymore

        Reply
      • Djones246890

        9 years ago

        You’re correct, King. I’m sure they would’ve rather sent Coghlan down, but then they would’ve lost him completely.

        Reply
  6. TheGlove620

    9 years ago

    Finally. LaStella got his groove back.

    Reply
  7. Larry D.

    9 years ago

    I wonder if he can come in and pitch in the 8th.

    Reply
    • Ray Ray

      9 years ago

      Not happy with Rondon?

      Reply
      • ChiSoxCity

        9 years ago

        Rondon looked terrible during his last appearance. If he doesn’t get his command back, the Cubs would be in serious trouble during a playoff series. The same could be said for their entire bullpen at the moment.

        Reply
        • halos101

          9 years ago

          he was coming off an injury wasn’t he? understandable if he wasn’t sharp in his first game back

          Reply
        • thebare

          9 years ago

          What where have you beenChi SoxCity I love the White Sox but Cubs first need there own TV station in 2017

          Reply
      • Larry D.

        9 years ago

        Not recently.

        Reply
  8. slider32

    9 years ago

    I’m glad Tommy is reporting , the Cubs will realize they made a mistake. He only want to play with the Cubs and is a good utility man. Cubs will bring him up in Sept.

    Reply
    • ray_derek

      9 years ago

      They didn’t make a mistake, they’re keeping 2 players instead of 1.

      Reply
      • jkim319

        9 years ago

        Totally right. Theo and Jed have show us all how important it is to find, trade for, claim (waivers), sign (FA), draft and develop ‘assets’ (talent).

        With what we have seen over the last 4 years, I wouldn’t question McLeod, Hoyer or Theo in what they see and how they value assets as they fit the needs of the 25 and 40 man rosters

        Grimm took one for the team and went down (granted his performance was not nearly as good as lastella), warren (when he was here) did the same as did Cahill … I am a lastella fan, but disagree on what was obviously a business decision that under ‘his’ CBA was totally under the rights of the cubbies..

        Should have expressed his displeasure and diasappointment .. Was fine to ask for extended reporting time, but when enough was enough (~7 days), he should have reported ..

        … Still a lastella fan.. We all make mistakes, but he has some work to do.. Go cubbies. Everyone knows we are playing to get into (and win) the final series in October

        Reply
    • thebare

      9 years ago

      As a pinch hitter

      Reply
  9. TunnelDan

    9 years ago

    I hope everyone can appreciate how hard this guy works to prepare to perform on a moment’s notice at the same standard as an everyday player. The discipline required to accomplish that, mentally

    Reply
  10. CodyGadbois

    9 years ago

    He got hit by a pitch tonight. Karma

    Reply
    • Kayrall

      9 years ago

      Karma? Did he do something wrong?

      Reply
  11. stormie

    9 years ago

    The guy would rather retire at 27 than play for another big league team? Weird guy.

    Reply
  12. TunnelDan

    9 years ago

    Tommy called up for August 31 game to start day before roster expansion. Nice play, dude!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Recent

    Padres To Activate Yu Darvish On Monday

    Rhys Hoskins Suffers Grade 2 Thumb Sprain, Headed To IL

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Rays Sign Peter Strzelecki To Minor League Contract

    MLB Announces 2025 All-Star Rosters

    Pirates Re-Sign Yohan Ramírez, Release Peter Strzelecki

    Diamondbacks Place Pavin Smith On IL, Select Tristin English

    Details On Bryan Reynolds’ Limited No-Trade Protection

    Tigers Select PJ Poulin

    Blue Jays Place Andres Gimenez On 10-Day Injured List

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version