Cubs Bring in Anthony Rizzo from Padres: Fan Reaction

There must be something about Anthony Rizzo that Jed Hoyer likes. On Friday, January 6, MLB Network reported that Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer traded pitcher Andrew Cashner and outfield prospect Kyung-Min Na to the San Diego Padres for first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Minor league pitcher Zach Cates. This marks the third time since 2007 that Hoyer has acquired the left-hand power-hitting first baseman.

Three acquisitions

Hoyer was part of the Boston Red Sox staff that drafted Rizzo in 2007. Later as the San Diego Padres general manager in December of 2010, Hoyer brought Rizzo to the Padres as part of the Adrian Gonzalez deal. Now, the two will reunite in Wrigley Field - maybe not immediately as the season starts but likely not far down the road. Rizzo could get some looks in spring training, but Cubs writer Carrie Muskat reports Hoyer as saying that Rizzo will likely start the season in AAA Iowa.

Minor League statistics

In his Minor League career, Anthony Rizzo has hit .296 with 64 home runs and 281 RBI in 375 games, including .331, 26, HR, 101 RBI in 93 games in 2011. So far in his very brief Major League career (with the Padres in 2011), he has not hit that well (.141 in 49 games), but at age 21, we can understand that. He has plenty of time to develop. Rizzo provides promise for the future at first base for the Cubs. In 2012, Bryan LaHair appears as the favorite to play first, and adding Anthony Rizzo to the system could mean the end of the pursuit of slugger Prince Fielder.

Part of rebuilding

The Cubs' new management has made it clear that they want to replenish the Minor League system. Adding Rizzo helps to do just that. The Cubs gave up a hard-throwing starter in Cashner, who will try to recover after an injury last April that kept him out until September. He may have pitched out of the bullpen had he stayed with the Cubs. As Epstein and Hoyer rebuild the team for the future, I like the move. They will continue to look for starting pitching, and the Cubs now have two left-handed power-hitting first basemen who can fill a much-needed void without the Cubs' having to spend the millions upon millions that Prince Fielder might demand.

Jed Hoyer likes Anthony Rizzo. If Rizzo can come to Wrigley Field and hit for the Cubs as well as he has in the Minors, then all Cub fans will like him, too.

Sources:

Baseball Reference, Anthony Rizzo Player Page, Minors Batting, baseball-reference.com.

Carrie Muskat, Cubs Acquire Rizzo in Trade with Padres, cubs.mlb.com, January 6, 2012.

Chicago Cubs, Anthony Rizzo Player Page, cubs.mlb.com.

MLB Network Broadcast, Hot Stove, January 6, 2012.

Raymond grew up in Florida and began watching the Cubs on WGN in 1982. He became a fan in 1984 when Ryne Sandberg hit the two famous game-tying home runs off Cardinals closer and former Cub Bruce Sutter. Raymond then solidified his team loyalty when the Cubs won the division later that season and has been a fan ever since.

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