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.
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.
He has stated that he only wants to play for the cubs and would retire rather than play for someone else
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.
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
wat
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….
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.,
They quickly found out that he was unavailable due to fighting nocturnal monsters on a far away planet.
If I could put the “thumbs up” emoji here, I would. Bravo on that reference
Lol…. I got it, at least!
About Time!
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 .
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 ?
Chris Coughlan is so “good”, you can’t take him off the roster. rme (rolling my eyes)
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.
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.
Correct, which is exactly why the Cubs did what they did.
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
You’re correct, King. I’m sure they would’ve rather sent Coghlan down, but then they would’ve lost him completely.
Finally. LaStella got his groove back.
I wonder if he can come in and pitch in the 8th.
Not happy with Rondon?
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.
he was coming off an injury wasn’t he? understandable if he wasn’t sharp in his first game back
What where have you beenChi SoxCity I love the White Sox but Cubs first need there own TV station in 2017
Not recently.
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.
They didn’t make a mistake, they’re keeping 2 players instead of 1.
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
As a pinch hitter
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
He got hit by a pitch tonight. Karma
Karma? Did he do something wrong?
The guy would rather retire at 27 than play for another big league team? Weird guy.
Tommy called up for August 31 game to start day before roster expansion. Nice play, dude!