The Chicago Cubs traded minor league infielder/outfielder Arismendy Alcantara to the Oakland Athletics on Thursday in exchange for outfielder Chris Coghlan, just months after trading Coghlan to Oakland.
Coghlan, 30, was hitting .146 for the Athletics this year but put up good numbers for the Cubs after joining the team as a spring invitee before the 2014 season. The former rookie of the year with the Miami Marlins hit .250 last season for the Cubs with a career high 16 home runs to go along with 41 RBIs. He was a big part of the Cubs' second-half surge helping them secure a wild-card berth.
Though struggling this season, Coghlan has a career .339 on-base percentage against right-handed pitching. He was used strictly as a platoon player in his two years with the Cubs, who found a need for him after outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler went down with injuries.
Additionally, lefty pinch hitter Tommy La Stella injured his hamstring in the just-completed series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Though the injury isn't deemed serious, he is likely to end up on the disabled list, making room for Coghlan.
Alcantara, 24, is batting .264 with five home runs for Triple-A Iowa after appearing in 81 big league games over the past two seasons.
