The Padres have signed a wheelchair-bound ex-pitcher for 20 straight years

[Chuck]

Matt LaChappa during his playing days.

The San Diego Padres made a series of stunning offseason acquisitions, including trades for Matt Kemp, Craig Kimbrel, Wil Myers and Justin Upton and the free-agent signing of starter James Shields. But one under-the-radar minor-league contract might be the team’s best move of all.

 

At the O.C. Register, Steve Bisheff shares the sad story of Matt LaChappa, a former Padres prospect from the Barona Indian Reservation, just east of San Diego. LaChappa suffered a heart attack while warming up in the bullpen for a start in Class A Rancho Cucumonga in 1996 and is now confined to a wheelchair, but the Padres have renewed his basic minor league contract every season, in part so he can have access to health insurance.

 

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[Blarg]

Padres keeping their promise about health insurance. Now if only a certain president could have done the same.

[gotbeer]

Lot's of class from all around.  Even, /gasp, the insurance company.  

[Diaz15]

Very classy San Diego.

[Tank]

Padres keeping their promise about health insurance. Now if only a certain president could have done the same.

 

if you like your minor league doctor, you can keep your minor league doctor.

[Mark68]

I saw this story on MLB Trade Rumors last night. Kudos to the Friars for doing this when they don't have to.

[Mark68]

Padres keeping their promise about health insurance. Now if only a certain president could have done the same.

Do you know anybody who actually had to change their insurance/provider? I don't.

[Lou]

Do you know anybody who actually had to change their insurance/provider? I don't.

yes.

a lot of them

[Revad]

Padres>>>>>>Dogs

[Blarg]

Do you know anybody who actually had to change their insurance/provider? I don't.

Yes, you are lucky then none of your family or friends were not impacted.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Why did I just know that this would head down a political road...

[fan_since79]

There's a 54-page thread on the political forum dealing with this topic.

 

http://www.angelswin-forum.com/forums/topic/7984-obamacare-horror-stories/page-54

[Vegas Halo Fan]

I will save my insurance discussion for the political forum. Kudos to the Padres for doing the right thing.

[AngelsSurfer]

I'm staying well away from the political debate here, but the Padres' actions to take care of this player are extremely compassionate and classy. Much respect to them for that.