The Cubs could look to the past as they lay a foundation for the future.
WSCR’s Bruce Levine reported Thursday former Cub and free agent infielder Tommy La Stella “appears to be on the team’s radar.”
La Stella, 31, spent four seasons on the North Side (2015-18) as a utility player, appearing at second and third base. The Cubs traded him to the Angels in November 2018, and he blossomed into an All-Star everyday player.
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La Stella slashed .289/.353/.483 in one-and-a-half seasons with the Angels, hitting a career-high 16 home runs in 2019. He made the All-Star team that season but missed a chunk of time with a right tibia fracture.
The Cubs have internal second base options in Nico Hoerner and David Bote, with Jason Kipnis currently a free agent. La Stella, whom the Angels traded to the A’s in August, is the type of contact-oriented bat the Cubs need. He doesn’t strike out much — 8.7 percent rate in 2019, 5.3 in 2020.
The Cubs plan to try and “thread the needle” this winter, retooling their roster for another playoff run in 2021 with an eye on building a core for future success. Making any significant roster moves could be tough under the uncertain financial circumstances brought on by COVID-19.
And while La Stella may be on the Cubs radar, the same likely can be said about many teams.
