Chicago Cubs re-acquire utility man Chris Coghlan from Athletics

While the Chicago Cubs arrived in Atlanta for a three-game weekend set with the Braves, they pulled a trigger on a trade with two familiar faces. It was their first deal of the regular season. One of a few that will come.

Wow, I really wasn’t expecting this to happen. Remember when the Cubs sent Chris Coghlan over to the West Coast? A move that made room for outfielder Dexter Fowler to make his return to the team while they were going through workouts in Mesa, Arizona?

Yeah, I do too. And to be honest, I was a little upset at the fact that they were moving him after the huge year he had with the Cubs who were swept in the National League Championship Series. But this is a business, and the business side of professional sports can be heartbreaking.

Not to say that I didn’t want Fowler to return because let’s face it, he was a huge part of why the Cubs were so successful in 2015. Aside from Arrieta and all the other guys who had monster seasons.

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Now that we are past all this crazy stuff, it’s time to welcome Coghlan back with open arms after the Cubs re-acquired him from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Arismendy Alcantara according to the Chicago Tribune.

This is about the fourth or fifth time that these two organizations have come together and exchanged players. Just a few years ago, the Cubs send Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel over for Addison Russell, Billy McKinney, and pitcher Dan Straily.

Hammel returned to the Cubs following Oakland’s brief postseason run. So far this year, Coghlan has struggled, to say the least. In 158 at-bats, the 30-year-old former Rookie of the Year winner has recorded five home runs while driving in 14 and five doubles while hitting a weak .146/.215/.272.

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Surely, Coghlan is happy that he’s back on the North Side of Chicago with the best team in baseball. He ended 2015 with a career-high 16 homers and tied his mark of 41 runs batted in and played nearly ever position except for catcher, pitcher, and shortstop.

The reason why he’s back for a second stint with the Cubs is because Tommy La Stella may end up being placed on the disabled list with a hamstring injury of his own. La Stella missed a decent amount of time due to an oblique injury last season.

It’ll be interesting to see what Joe’s lineup will look like for today’s series opener against the Braves.