Alcantara Traded to Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics have made a small move, acquiring 2B/OF Arismendy Alcantara from the Chicago Cubs for 2B Chris Coghlan. Alcantara will report to AAA Nashville and Coghlan will provide depth in wake of the Jorge Soler and Tommy La Stella injuries.

Alcantara, 24, hasn’t seen much major league action. He’s played 81 games between 2014 and 2015 and hasn’t played in 2016. He has 10 career homers with 30 RBI and a .194/.252/.342 slash line. However, Alcantara still has major upside. He was ranked 18th on Baseball Prospectus’ 2014 Mid-Season Rankings. Alcantara has blazing speed, above average bat power, and has the athleticism to cover multiple positions, including second base and center field.

Coghlan, 31, played for the Cubs from 2014-15. He was traded to the A’s by the Cubs for RHP Aaron Brooks on February 25th. Coghlan has played 51 games for the A’s this season, hitting five home runs and 14 RBI with a .146/.215/.272 slash line. 

The thing that may make Coghlan attractive to Chicago is his fielding percentage. Although it’s a .986 at second base, it’s a 1.000 in the outfield and at third. The Cubs may value this and therefore pulled the trigger on this.

Photo Credit: Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune