Chicago Cubs acquire Tommy La Stella from Atlanta Braves
By Aaron Somers
Second baseman Tommy La Stella has been traded to the Chicago Cubs, according to an announcement by the team. The Cubs are sending right-hander Arodys Vizcaino to the Atlanta Braves in return.
The two teams will also swap international bonus pool slots in the trade. The Cubs will receive the Braves’ number four slot, with the Braves receiving the Cubs’ second, third, and fourth. In the end, the deal gives the Braves roughly $830,000 in additional bonus slot room according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.
Atlanta’s decision to move La Stella is a curious one. The much-discussed second baseman came into the 2014 season as the team’s #9 ranked prospect, according to Baseball America. He made his MLB debut with the team in late May, after getting off to a .293/.384/.359 start at Triple-A to begin the season. He’d end up playing in 93 games before the year ended, batting .251/.328/.317 in 360 plate appearances. His .328 on base percentage and 36 walks led all National League rookies.
La Stella’s plate discipline and on base abilities fueled his ascent up the organizational ladder and he figured to play into the Braves’ plans for 2015. It would appear as though the organization may be facing an outside acquisition to address who starts at second base.
With Chicago, however, La Stella’s path suddenly has become much murkier. Barring any additional moves or trades to clear up the logjam, La Stella will head into Spring Training looking to battle Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara, and Logan Watkins for playing time at second base. Luis Valbuena, who’s penciled in as the team’s third baseman, also spent a good amount of time at second last season and may factor into that mix once he’s pushed off the position by Kris Bryant.
In the end, Chicago’s addition of La Stella merely adds to the stable of talented, young, and cost-controlled middle infield options that the organization possesses.
Vizcaino had initially been acquired by the Cubs at the 2012 July trade deadline. He, along with Jaye Chapman, came over from the Braves for Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson, and cash. Vizcaino will now return to the organization he made his debut with in 2011. The four-time Top 100 prospect missed all of the 2012 and 2013 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned to make 40 appearances in the minor leagues this past season, posting a 3.51 ERA and 1.366 WHIP.
Vizcaino made five appearances for the Cubs during his tenure with the organization, all coming this past September. If he’s able to remain healthy, he could give the Braves an additional hard throwing option in the bullpen.