Angels trade La Stella to Athletics for Barreto
The AL West-leading Oakland Athletics have made a major addition to their infield.
Oakland acquired utility man Tommy La Stella from the Los Angeles Angels Friday for middle infielder Franklin Barreto, the team announced.
La Stella - an impending free agent - is hitting .273/.371/.475 with four home runs, eight doubles, 15 walks, and just seven strikeouts in 28 games. This follows a breakout 2019 in which he hit a career-high 16 homers in 80 games.
The left-handed hitter has appeared at first, second, and third base over the last two seasons. He'll likely get the bulk of his playing time at second base against right-handed pitching. La Stella owns a .953 OPS against righties this year, and a .562 OPS facing southpaws.
Barreto, the once-promising prospect, appeared in 95 games over four seasons with Oakland after being acquired in 2014 from the Toronto Blue Jays as part of the return for Josh Donaldson. He hit .180/.210/.360 with nine home runs and seven doubles. The 24-year-old isn't arbitration-eligible until 2022.