BREAKING: Angels acquire....

[Barrett]

13 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Sure it is allowed, I didn’t say you can’t say that, I don’t even have the power to tell you not to say that.  It would simply carry a lot more weight if other teams were making moves that mattered while the Angels were not.  We upgraded our roster today, you may not see it, but it is exactly what happened.  We replaced Blash, who is awful, with a guy with good on base skills.  

Agree as much as this move is ehh or not that exciting. The guy has a career 345 obp. Can't hate that. Would have been 3 on the Angels last year.

[Pujols4MVP]

Not to sound like the guy in Office Space but So Blash has been let go ? They fixed the glitch ? .103 AVG he's useless.

Addition by subtraction.

[Chuck]

11 minutes ago, AngelStew43 said:

Look on the bright side.   At least we didn't acquire Tommy Lasorda.  One or two of those other utility types will probably go out in another deal.

La Stella may be our opening day 2B.

I seriously doubt that. But he's a good backup INF option for sure. 

[fan_since79]

Good pickup. You can never have enough guys that nobody has ever heard of.

 

[jgimondo]

Why didn't we just get Torreyes from the Yankees ? He is a better player.

[Docwaukee]

I think he will end up platooning with Albert at 1b quite a bit or be a good option to be solid LHed hitter in place of Fletch or Cozart should they struggle.  

He also has an option left.  2nd year of arb.  Controlled for the next two years.  

Never really gotten much consistent PT.  

[Docwaukee]

7 minutes ago, jgimondo said:

Why didn't we just get Torreyes from the Yankees ? He is a better player.

La Stella is probably a better hitter.  Cubs wanted Torreyes because he can play SS.  We have Cozart and Fletcher to backup SS so we went with the better stick.  

[Blarg]

34 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Anybody else remember this?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/08/09/cubs-la-stella-refuses-to-report-to-minors/88494048/

Hoyer said La Stella's absence will make the Cubs look for left-handed hitting elsewhere. He said when La Stella returns, it won't be with the Cubs.

That was two seasons ago. I guess Hoyer was a little slow pulling the trigger.

[Second Base]

1 minute ago, Dochalo said:

I think he will end up platooning with Albert at 1b quite a bit or be a good option to be solid LHed hitter in place of Fletch or Cozart should they struggle.  

He also has an option left.  2nd year of arb.  Controlled for the next two years.  

Never really gotten much consistent PT.  

Last time the Cubs tried to option he refused the assignment and threatened retirement.  I doubt that'll fly with him.  And La Stella has never been a starter at any point in his major league career.  With the amount of options the Angels have, I doubt La Stella will be starting many games.  But last year, he was the best pinch hitter in baseball, and the angels half failed to come up clutch as frequently as they need to.  So I assume he'll be our primary pinch hitting option, while getting one start a week elsewhere. 

I'm not too excited about this move, because it likely means no Moustakas, but I understand Eppler's motivation and logic here. 

[Lou]

how soon they forget about BLASH OFF !!!

it makes me sad. 

[ettin]

1 hour ago, Chuckster70 said:

Additionally, the Club requested unconditional release waivers on OF Jabari Blash

@Dochalo Nnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Docwaukee]

Just now, ettin said:

@Dochalo Nnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAHA!!

I was just about to offer you condolences.  

[Second Base]

2 minutes ago, Blarg said:

Hoyer said La Stella's absence will make the Cubs look for left-handed hitting elsewhere. He said when La Stella returns, it won't be with the Cubs.

That was two seasons ago. I guess Hoyer was a little slow pulling the trigger.

I suppose so, but I understand where La Stella is coming from.  This is his job, and he's good at it, but La Stella doesn't get his identity from baseball.  So if teams aren't going to put him in the major leagues where he feels he belongs, he'd rather just step away. 

I respect that. That's the way players should conceptualize themselves and their career.  They aren't baseball players, baseball is what they do. They're so much more. 

[HaloNArizona]

Just an FYI...La Stella has not played SS in his MLB career.....so my guess is...welcome your new starting 3Bman.  

[UndertheHalo]

1 minute ago, Lou said:

how soon they forget about BLASH OFF !!!

it makes me sad. 

The problem with this is that he never actually did Blash Off. 

[eligrba4ever]

A quality pinch-hitter! Rallies won't die when the pitchers hit!!! Oh, wait ... We're mostly in the American League. Oh, well.

Still, he'll help keep Kaleb at Smith's Ballpark.

Oh, and the big bonus: Hasta la vista, Jabari!!!

[UndertheHalo]

Hopefully this is one of those cheap productive guys we’ve never been able to get ahold of. 

It would be nice if he didn’t transform into a mega turd like Valbuena did.  We shall see. 

[Blarg]

4 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

HAHA!!

I was just about to offer you condolences.  

@BackUpTheTruck is going to be crushed. 

[Homebrewer]

17 minutes ago, jgimondo said:

Why didn't we just get Torreyes from the Yankees ? He is a better player.

Cubs got him a couple days ago.. 

[vladdy#27]

8 minutes ago, Blarg said:

Hoyer said La Stella's absence will make the Cubs look for left-handed hitting elsewhere. He said when La Stella returns, it won't be with the Cubs.

That was two seasons ago. I guess Hoyer was a little slow pulling the trigger.

Hoyer also said

Quote

"There's no doubt he's going to have to get at-bats and play in Triple-A before he can help the major league team," Hoyer said. "He's going to get at-bats in Iowa, for sure."

I think he meant that when he returned it wouldn't be to the major league team. He will return to the minors first

[Lou]

9 minutes ago, Second Base said:

I suppose so, but I understand where La Stella is coming from.  This is his job, and he's good at it, but La Stella doesn't get his identity from baseball.  So if teams aren't going to put him in the major leagues where he feels he belongs, he'd rather just step away. 

I respect that. That's the way players should conceptualize themselves and their career.  They aren't baseball players, baseball is what they do. They're so much more. 

does he get his identity from being unemployed?

[Docwaukee]

2 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

Hopefully this is one of those cheap productive guys we’ve never been able to get ahold of. 

It would be nice if he didn’t transform into a mega turd like Valbuena did.  We shall see. 

if he does, we can just move on.  Gonna cost about 1.2m this year and acquired for nothing.  

I can almost guarantee he's gonna be better than Valbuena or Marte.  He very could end up better than Cozart.  

He's the type of guy who could turn into the next Taylor or Muncy with a few swing tweaks.  Good hitter.  Hit well vs. lefties in the minors as well.  

[Second Base]

4 minutes ago, Lou said:

does he get his identity from being unemployed?

When you've made 3+ million dollars in the last 6 years, not counting whatever smaller endorsement deals he might have, you can get your identity from whatever you want.  Even if he retired right now, if he's smart with his money and doesn't live lavishly, he'd never have to work again.

That's a lot of time to figure out that whole identity thing, though it sounds like he's figured that out already. 

[goldenGlove]

looks like he doesn't suck that bad so this is probably a good pickup. unless he does suck. Then it will not be a good pickup

[UndertheHalo]

13 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

if he does, we can just move on.  Gonna cost about 1.2m this year and acquired for nothing.  

I can almost guarantee he's gonna be better than Valbuena or Marte.  He very could end up better than Cozart.  

He's the type of guy who could turn into the next Taylor or Muncy with a few swing tweaks.  Good hitter.  Hit well vs. lefties in the minors as well.  

Absolutely I agree.  I’m hopeful.