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Cubs' Joe Maddon: Tommy La Stella Is Reporting To Double-A

(CBS) After sitting out three weeks following a demotion to the minor leagues that he didn't accept, Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella is reporting to Double-A Tennessee, manager Joe Maddon said on the Spiegel and Goff Show on Wednesday afternoon.

La Stella is in the Tennessee Smokies' lineup for Wednesday night, hitting second and playing second base.

"Tommy's doing well," Maddon said. "Actually, I think he's going to be about ready to report to Double-A," Maddon said. "Everything's moving along well. We've had some really healthy conversations, some good conversations, him and Theo (Epstein).

"Everything's moving forward, so Tommy's ready to get back out there."

The 27-year-old La Stella was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on July 29 due to a roster crunch but instead returned home to New Jersey, where's he's been training and hitting but not getting game reps. He was "working through some issues," Maddon said previously, and La Stella himself told ESPN.com that he would only suit up for the Cubs, who currently have him on the inactive list.

La Stella has been a key bat off the bench for the Cubs, hitting .295 with an .846 OPS and making the occasional spot start when matchups dictated it.

Maddon didn't know why La Stella was reporting to Double-A instead of Triple-A Iowa, saying it didn't much matter anyway so long as La Stella could get at-bats.

MLB rosters expand in September, meaning there will be room to add La Stella if the Cubs so choose. Postseason rosters are comprised of 25 players, so tougher decisions will have to be made at that point.

Maddon acknowledged previously that La Stella's actions, should he stay the course with them, would create some "strain," but the Cubs have also supported him throughout the process.

"He's a great human being, great teammate, great player," veteran catcher David Ross said last week. "I want him back, to be honest with you. We're a better team with him on it. But I want him to be the Tommy La Stella that I know. I don't want him to be a guy who's dealing with whatever he's dealing with."

Listen to Maddon's full interview with the Spiegel and Goff Show below.

Joe Maddon on the Spiegel and Goff Show

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