Bryan LaHair, Chicago Cubs' All-Star this season, was designated for assignment on Tuesday, according to Carrie Muskat. The team is attempting to swing a deal with a Japanese team for him to make the transition across the Pacific.
Al Yellon of Baseball Nation and BleedCubbieBlue had this to say about LaHair's departure:
Seriously, LaHair seems like a good guy and he'll probably do very well in Japan. And he'll always be known as a National League All-Star. Finally, his last big-league at-bat...was a walkoff single, a game-winner in an otherwise miserable year for the team. That'll be a nice memory, too.
The 30-year-old journeyman slugger got off to a scorching start in 2012, hitting .308/.396/.582 through the end of May. It earned him a spot on the National League All-Star Team, but he struggled mightily as the season wore on. He ended up hitting just .222/.284/.351 over the season's final four months. He lost his job as the starting first baseman when top prospect Anthony Rizzo was called up at the end of June, moving him to the outfield.