Chicago Cubs: Tommy La Stella Refuses Minor League Assignment
By Matt Weyrich
Chicago Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella found himself the odd man out once Chris Coghlan was activated from the Disabled List. Rather than accept his assignment to Triple-A Iowa, however, La Stella opted to head home instead.
The Cubs, owners of the best record in Major League Baseball, are one of the deepest teams in the sport. Their roster has very few weaknesses, thus making general manager Theo Epstein’s position a tough one when deciding who makes the club’s 25-man roster.
31-year old outfielder Chris Coghlan hit the disabled list with a rib cage injury in early July. Signed to a guaranteed contract, Coghlan was likely going to retain his roster spot once he worked his way back to full health. He only needed the minimum fifteen days to do so, and on July 29 Chicago activated him. In a corresponding move, they decided to demote hot-hitting infielder Tommy La Stella to Triple-A Iowa because he had options.
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Upon hearing of his demotion, La Stella didn’t take things well. Instead of reporting to Triple-A, the Cubs’ infielder bought a plane ticket home to New Jersey, where he is training for his supposed eventual call-up back to the Majors. Unfortunately for him, this holdout could have the opposite effect.
Chicago has reached out to La Stella in numerous ways. Manager Joe Maddon has been texting back and forth with him, and the organization has sent a sports psychologist his way. They are as invested as keeping their young utility man focused on the program as one might expect, but the choice remains in La Stella’s hands.
While La Stella claims that his decision not to play in the minors has not stirred up any discontent between the ballclub and himself, it is difficult to imagine the Cubs being very pleased with his decision. Although he is currently sporting a .295/.388/.457 slash line with twelve extra-base hits in 51 games this season, La Stella is failing to see that the Cubs choice was a baseball decision, not a personal one.
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The Cubs haven’t missed a beat since La Stella’s departure, leading the majors with a 10-1 record over that span. La Stella needs them more than they need him. If he wants to find himself on the playoff roster helping fight for the Cubs’ first World Series title in 108 years, then he needs to shrug his pride aside and hop on the next flight to Iowa.