Cubs Activate Chris Coghlan, Option Tommy La Stella To Triple-A

(CBS) The Cubs have activated outfielder Chris Coghlan from the disabled list and in a surprising move optioned infielder Tommy La Stella to Triple-A Iowa.

Coghlan has been out since July 2 with a rib injury. He's hitting .155 with five homers, 14 RBIs and a .522 OPS in 70 games split between the Cubs and Athletics this season. In the 19 games he's played just with the Cubs, he's hitting .194 with a .662 OPS.

The demotion of La Stella is surprising because he's the team's best left-handed bat off the bench and he's having a quality season, hitting .295 with a .388 on-base percentage and .845 OPS in 51 games.

In recent days, manager Joe Maddon spoke of the difficult decision that was awaiting the Cubs in having to send a deserving player down to Iowa.