The NL Central leading Chicago Cubs just made a deal that flips minor league prospect Arismendy Alcantara to the Oakland A’s for returning outfielder Chris Coghlan.
The Chicago Cubs may have the best record and largest division lead in baseball (10 games coming into play today), however it doesn’t mean the front office is relaxing. Their recent move broke by Patrick Mooney highlights that.
#Cubs re-acquire Chris Coghlan and send Arismendy Alcantara to #Athletics, with Tommy La Stella (hamstring) expected to go on DL.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) June 9, 2016
The versatile Arismendy Alcantara fell down the systems depth chart as the Cubs are loaded with infield and outfield depth that can contribute at the major league level. Alcantara had been with the Cubs since signing in 2008 from the Dominican Republic.
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It is expected he will receive a chance to play in the majors with the move to Oakland, where he would make his 2016 major league debut. Chris Coghlan makes his return to the Cubs organization after a brief stint with the A’s. He was traded during the most recent offseason for minor league Pitcher Aaron Brooks.
Coghlan has struggled thus far this season (.146/.215/.272), yet the move will give the Cubs even more outfield depth after recently losing an improving Jorge Soler to the 15 day DL. Coghlan is likely to see play exclusively against right handed pitching whom he is hitting a career .269 against opposed to his career .226 against south paws.
Is this move going to guarantee the Cubs break their historically long world series drought? No. However it does mean Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are exploring all avenues at their disposal to improve an already formidable Cubs team (yes they really are good).
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Coghlan will definitely receive a warm welcome from the Cubs faithful once he takes the field at Wrigley once again wearing the home pinstripes.