*Photo from Orange County Register*
The Oakland Athletics have acquired infielder Tommy La Stella from the Los Angeles Angels, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Infielder Franklin Barreto is going to the Angels in exchange. La Stella was seen hugging his teammates in the dugout during Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners, confirming the rumors he had been traded.
La Stella will be hitting free agency at the end of the season. He is hitting .273 with 4 homers and 14 RBI in 28 games played. La Stella had a breakout 2019, where he hit .295 with 16 homers and 44 RBI in 80 games played. La Stella will likely get the bulk of the playing time at second base, and against right handed pitchers. La Stella also has the ability to play first and third base, making appearances there over the last two seasons.
Barreto was a former top prospect, acquired by Oakland in the Josh Donaldson trade in 2014. Barreto has yet to record a hit this season in 10 plate appearances over 15 games. In his career, he is a .180 hitter with 9 homers and 27 RBI across 3 full seasons with the Athletics. Barreto has many years of team control left, as he isn't arbitration eligible until 2022.
The Athletics seem primed to be buyers at the trade deadline, as they currently possess the best record in the American League at 22-10, and have a 4.5 game lead over the Houston Astros in the AL West. The Angels have the second worst record in the AL, sitting in last in the AL West with an 11-22 record, 11.5 games behind Oakland.
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