Cubs Trading Future Surprise All-Star Tommy La Stella to the Angels for Almost Nothing Was Just Bad Luck
By Brady Williams
In late 2018, the Chicago Cubs parted ways with Tommy La Stella. They got minor leaguer Conor Lillis-White in exchange, and while the trade was kind of a small drop in a large pond at the time, La Stella blew up this past season, while Lillis-White is still toiling away in the minor leagues. It's really just an unlucky turn of events for the Cubs.
La Stella was a bench piece for the Cubs, and the value they got out of him wasn't unreasonable given his prior performance. It was better to get a prospect with potential than to hang onto a guy who struggled for most of his time. What no one could have predicted was how much La Stella took off in Anaheim. He managed to become an All-Star after years of trouble.
"To have an opportunity to share the field with [the best in the game] in front of my friends and family is gonna be really cool."
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) July 1, 2019
Tommy La Stella on his first All-Star selection. pic.twitter.com/7O75qyUCpD
La Stella hit 16 home runs and posted 44 RBI in 80 games. He massively outperformed in 2019, and expecting the Cubs to anticipate such a drastic turnaround from La Stella is simply unreasonable.
"This guy got an opportunity and he made the most of it"
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) July 3, 2019
- General Manager of the @Angels Billy Eppler on Tommy La Stella and his injury pic.twitter.com/1NufTyQXq9
Sometimes a player gets it together, and all the stats and film in the world can't predict that. It lies within the player. For the Cubs, the trade may not look great now, but nothing could have indicated La Stella would become the player he was in 2019.