Giants reportedly ready to sign free agent La Stella
When the Giants hit their lowest point during the 2020 season, it was former Los Angeles Angels second baseman Tommy La Stella who delivered the crushing blow.
Five months after La Stella hit a walkoff home run off right-hander Trevor Gott to drop the Giants to 8-16 on the season, La Stella may soon be charged with helping the team he hurt attempt to build off the momentum it gained during the second half of last year.
According to a report from NBC Sports Bay Area, the Giants are nearing a deal with the free agent infielder.
After being traded from the Angels to the A’s in the middle of last season, La Stella served as Oakland’s everyday second baseman and hit .289 with a .782 OPS in 27 games before entering free agency. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said early in the offseason it was a priority to add a lefthanded hitter with an established track record of major league success.
An American League All-Star in 2019, La Stella has appeared at first, second and third base in his seven-year career, but has logged the most innings at second.
La Stella, who will be 32 this week, isn’t an above-average defender at any of the three positions, but his positional versatility could give the Giants’ front office and manager Gabe Kapler opportunities to be creative in the infield. La Stella can platoon at second base with right-handed hitters Donovan Solano and Wilmer Flores while also occasionally spelling third baseman Evan Longoria, who is targeted for more of an everyday role.
La Stella has a career .766 OPS against right-handed pitchers (.903 in 2020) and a .702 mark against southpaws, so it’s unlikely he would play much against lefties unless the Giants use their newfound depth to explore ways to upgrade the roster.
With La Stella, Longoria, Flores, Solano and incumbent starters Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt back in the fold, the Giants would have a relatively deep group of infielders who have all played on an everyday basis for much of their careers. The club also signed former Cubs and Padres prospect Jason Vosler, a left-handed hitter who can play third base and second base, earlier in the offseason, giving the team a surplus of infielders on its 40-man roster.
La Stella, who has only struck out in 40 of his last 549 plate appearances, boasts elite contact skills that are reminiscent of former Giants second baseman Joe Panik when he was at his best.