Versatile veteran Coghlan rejoins Cubs

The Cubs will welcome back a familiar face, most likely for today's series opener in Atlanta.

They have reacquired outfielder-infielder Chris Coghlan in a trade that sent minor league infielder Arismendy Alcantara to the Oakland Athletics.

Coghlan may join the major-league club immediately as it is likely the Cubs will place infielder Tommy La Stella on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. La Stella suffered the injury in Tuesday's game at Philadelphia.

Earlier this week, the Cubs placed outfielder Jorge Soler on the DL with a hamstring injury. They called up former No. 1 draft pick Albert Almora Jr.

Coghlan, 30, rejoins the Cubs after spending the 2014 and 2015 seasons with them. He batted .265 (219-for-825) with 53 doubles, 11 triples and 25 homers in 273 games for the Cubs, and last season, he set career marks with 16 homers, 58 walks, 47 extra-base hits and 148 games played. The Cubs traded him to Oakland Feb. 25 for right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks.

With the A's, Coghlan appeared in 51 games, including 46 starts, batting .146 (23-for-158) with 5 doubles, 5 homers and 14 RBI.

He has made 16 starts at second base, 15 at third base, 11 in right field and 2 in left field.

Alcantara, 24, batted .264 (52-for-197) with 9 doubles, 5 triples, 5 homers, 21 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 53 games with Class AAA Iowa this season.

He appeared in parts of two major-league seasons with the Cubs from 2014-15, batting .194 (59-for-304) with 11 doubles, 2 triples and 10 homers in 81 games.