Cubs Acquire Tommy La Stella for Arodys Vizcaino

[beckdawg]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/cubs-acquire-tommy-la-stella.html

Not sure I get this one. Vizcaino was meh after never rebounded to starter status but they also gave up 3 international slot bonuses(2-4) for the worst braves one(4) for a player who looks like a bench bat at best and is at 2B which is arguably their most crowded position. I'm wondering if there's something else at play here as in a trade brewing for say Baez/Alcantara. Projections like La Stella as an above average 2B which is fine and all but he doesn't appear to be a big defender and he's not going to be starting.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Could this mean a big trade is coming?

Otherwise it's pretty random.

 

[chibears55]

Got me with this one, including the Braves wanting Vizcaino back..

Maybe cubs will flip him to the Nats for Zimmerman . .. ; ))

 

[modo]

I almost certainly think this is a prelude to another trade.

 

[JZsportsfan]

Gives the Cubs infield flexibility. Makes me think one of the top guys will get traded for a pitcher soon.

 

[chibears55]

@GDubCub: Cubs give up $974k in IFA bonus slot space, get back $142k. Remember: Cubs per-FA spending restricted to $250k for '13-14 over-spending.

 

[TL1961]

I almost certainly think this is a prelude to another trade.

Sounds like it. But I hope to God we don't make any trade that makes this guy relevant to our team. And I had always held out hope that Vizcaino would rebound.

Oh, well. I trust this management team. They have shown they have an eye for picking uo guys who play better than expected.

 

[beckdawg]

Sounds like it. But I hope to God we don't make any trade that makes this guy relevant to our team. And I had always held out hope that Vizcaino would rebound.

Oh, well. I trust this management team. They have shown they have an eye for picking uo guys who play better than expected.

I mean La Stella isn't *that* bad. Streamer projection him at .266/.335/.357 with 4 HRs next year. By no means is that amazing but it's not terrible either when you consider the dearth of 2B. For example the Giants just won a WS with Joe Panik as their primary 2B and he hit .305/.343/.368 with 1 HR in roughly half a season of PAs. And he's just going to be 26 so he's got room to grow. Compare him and Luis Valbuena when he came to the cubs and the difference isn't perhaps that big. Also, perhaps that is where this is going and Valbuena is the guy they move. Another consideration I suppose.

 

[JZsportsfan]

Rosenthal predicts that this is a precursor to a Castro trade ....

Not on board with that. If it were to net a SP like DeGrom I wouldn't mind I guess, but still not a huge fan and not sure if the Mets would take that. I'd rather trade a young player that hasn't made 3 ASG

I just don't think it's smart to trade a huge haul to the Phillies for Hamels, a guy that may be an ace for 3-5 more years. Would much rather trade for a guy with less miles, youth, and the ability to be a Cub for a long time. The Mets have a few pitchers that would align with that, DeGrom being the best fit

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Yeah, Castro is established with a team friendly deal. It would take a hell of a trade for me to be a fan of it.

 

[chibears55]

Rosenthal predicts that this is a precursor to a Castro trade ....

Even if that the case, i still dont see a big need for La Stella..
Ok, move Baez to short then Alcantara back to 2B..

My biggest thing though if they do trade Castro now, they better hope and pray Baez comes out hitting and don't struggle again.. Zimmerman or Hamel wont make much difference if offense struggling to score runs. ..

 

[chibears55]

Part of me thinks its a move to replace Alcantara (traded) not as a CFer but more so as a lefty hitting utility guy...

 

[JZsportsfan]

Even if that the case, i still dont see a big need for La Stella..
Ok, move Baez to short then Alcantara back to 2B..

My biggest thing though if they do trade Castro now, they better hope and pray Baez comes out hitting and don't struggle again.. Zimmerman or Hamel wont make much difference if offense struggling to score runs. ..

Agreed. I hope Castro is kept, but it is also very likely Alcantara + Baez are both involved in a trade, or 2 other INF guys. If the Mets love Castro as much as the reports say, I wouldn't be too upset if they traded him for DeGrom, but that is about it. Needs to be for a player in his age bracket.

 

[chibears55]

Agreed. I hope Castro is kept, but it is also very likely Alcantara + Baez are both involved in a trade, or 2 other INF guys. If the Mets love Castro as much as the reports say, I wouldn't be too upset if they traded him for DeGrom, but that is about it. Needs to be for a player in his age bracket.

I dont know.. maybe were all thinking to much of this move and it was simply a depth move by both teams..

 

[JZsportsfan]

Could very well be. But I doubt it. Doesn't guarantee the Cubs will make a big trade, but certainly gives them more flexibility to do so.

 

[beckdawg]

I really doubt this is a move made in conjunction with trading Castro. I think there's only a couple of idea that make sense. One is that they intend to trade Valbuena on a high note(he's a FA after this year IIRC).La Stella is kind of a similar type player to what we initially saw Valbuena as and he's also left handed as well as cheaper. Another is a bigger move for Baez(probably IMO) or Alcantara(less likely as he's far more flexible). A third is potentially just a depth guy as they don't have a ton of left handed bats and it's possible they just soured on Vizcaino. Another is La Stella was a piece they need to make another move so in essence this is part of a forthcoming three team trade.

 

[JP Hochbaum]

Viscaino was hurt too much and now we have depth in case of a Baez bust.

 

[chibears55]

@ESPNChiCubs: Just spoke with Jed Hoyer re trade. Liked La Stella for some time because of the obvious strengths..OBP, contact, stuff they need...
@ESPNChiCubs: Not sure how it will play out because they do have too many infielders but figure it will all play out...likened it to Coghlan last yr

@ESPNChiCubs: Picked him up, had no idea if he was starter, bench or minors and he worked his way into lineup..

@ESPNChiCubs: No precurosr to another move but obviously could be down the road because of the numbers...

@ESPNChiCubs: I get the sense that Vizcaino was now just another arm and not as "special"..plus others emerged so again, expendable in thier mind


Like i said, sounds more like a depth move then anything

 

[TL1961]

I mean La Stella isn't *that* bad. Streamer projection him at .266/.335/.357 with 4 HRs next year. By no means is that amazing but it's not terrible either when you consider the dearth of 2B. For example the Giants just won a WS with Joe Panik as their primary 2B and he hit .305/.343/.368 with 1 HR in roughly half a season of PAs. And he's just going to be 26 so he's got room to grow. Compare him and Luis Valbuena when he came to the cubs and the difference isn't perhaps that big. Also, perhaps that is where this is going and Valbuena is the guy they move. Another consideration I suppose.

I didn't mean he was terrible. I mean that I don't want to see Baez traded. I am not worried about that happening. Baez will play for the Cubs in 2015, and will be much better than many now expect, since they all feel he is a bust.

 

[TL1961]

Agreed. I hope Castro is kept, but it is also very likely Alcantara + Baez are both involved in a trade, or 2 other INF guys. If the Mets love Castro as much as the reports say, I wouldn't be too upset if they traded him for DeGrom, but that is about it. Needs to be for a player in his age bracket.

I'll take that bet.