Rumor: Garza to Padres for Rizzo

[WindyCity]

Cubs, Padres talking Matt Garza-Anthony Rizzo trade? | HardballTalk

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio, the Padres have expressed interest in acquiring right-handed starter Matt Garza from the Cubs in a package trade that would include 22-year-old first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

It’s not yet known which other names are involve in the talks, or how far along the negotiations are.

Rizzo was made expendable Saturday when the Padres picked up first base prospect Yonder Alonso in a five-player trade with the Reds. Alonso is expected to open the 2012 season as San Diego’s starting first baseman.

Garza, 28, posted a 3.32 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 31 starts this past year for the Cubs, fanning 197 batters and walking only 63 across 198 total innings. He’s arbitration-eligible for two more seasons.

[WindyCity]

I hate the idea of trading our only impact pitcher for a young 1st basemen.

We need some proven pitching and proven hitting and this sets us back in both regards.

[dabynsky]

Posted this in the Fielder thread, but probably should move the discussion over here:
Bleachernation has a real interesting read on the situation.

About approaching the Padres: the Cubs made that call within minutes of the trade announcement (and I got word of the call not long after that). Since then, I’ve been “working the phones,” so to speak, to try to get a handle on how the Cubs might try to put something together. All I’ve yet been able to confirm is that the two sides are talking, and that a deal would probably involve a fair bit more than just a straight-up Player X for Rizzo swap. Jim Bowden, for what it’s worth, says Matt Garza’s name is coming up as a possible centerpiece in a deal. Based on the Latos deal, and the A’s requests for Gio Gonzalez, the Cubs should be able to get a fair bit more than just Rizzo for Garza.

Ah, yes. Rizzo. After all of this discussion, you may be wondering: is Rizzo really worth all of this spilled ink? The short answer is oh yeah.

Rizzo, who just turned 22 in August, is the top prospect in a very, very good Padres’ system. Rizzo was a top 100 prospect in all of baseball going into 2011, and then all he did was put up an eye-popping .331/.404/.652 line, with 26 homers and 34 doubles in just 93 games. Those numbers are great even for the PCL, particularly for a 21-year-old. Before 2011, Rizzo’s minor league numbers were good, if unremarkable, but he was young at every level, and was consistent after each promotion. Rizzo is also believed to be an above average defender at first base.

[Shawon0Meter]

Posted this in the Fielder thread, but probably should move the discussion over here:

lololol cmon that trade package better include 1984 Tony Gwynn

[CODE_BLUE56]

fuck....

[dabynsky]

This would be a clear signal that we are whiteflaging 2012, but it might be the best move long term. Rizzo is a legitimate blue chip prospect that is the type of guy that makes you think about trading Garza. If you can net him and some other legitimate prospects from a deep San Deigo system, then I think you are hard pressed to say no even though it torpedoes any hope of being competitive next season.

[WindyCity]

Here is the shopping list from the Padres.

2011 Prospect Watch | padres.com: Prospects

I would start with their top 2 prospects

1. RHP Casey Kelly
2. 1B Anthony Rizzo

[dabynsky]

Originally Posted by WindyCity

Here is the shopping list from the Padres.

2011 Prospect Watch | padres.com: Prospects

I would start with their top 2 prospects

1. RHP Casey Kelly
2. 1B Anthony Rizzo

Rizzo is the guy that makes so much sense for both sides in this deal. Thed Hoystein love the guy (drafted for him and traded for him once already). He is now blocked at the one position he has played professionally with another guy that is only capable of playing the same position. Now this deal is going to be more than Garza for Rizzo, but what exactly I don't think we have a clue. Padres were interested in Marmol reportedly earlier, and the Cubs were interested in Headley as well. I think there are a lot of possible scenarios (3 team trade involving the Rangers for example), and until we hear more or some other dominoes fall (Darvish, Fielder, etc.) we really won't know.

[CODE_BLUE56]

it better be more than a straight up garza for rizzo deal here

it may be better long term..and it may not be....rizzo still has to develop

plus we get even thinner pitching wise...arguably garza is our lead pitcher now....

idk...

[dabynsky]

Originally Posted by CODE_BLUE56

it better be more than a straight up garza for rizzo deal here

Given that the Cubs demands apparently have been sky high for Garza according to all reports, 1 top 100 prospect isn't going to get it done.

Originally Posted by CODE_BLUE56

it may be better long term..and it may not be....rizzo still has to develop

Yes and no. He isn't a finished product, but the guy is more ready than Brett Jackson at this point. No prospect is a guarantee, but this guy is pretty damn close.

Originally Posted by CODE_BLUE56

plus we get even thinner pitching wise...arguably garza is our lead pitcher now....

You can take arguably out of that statement. He is their best pitcher and there is no way around the fact that it makes the 2012 Cubs much worse. However, this deal could set the Cubs up for a long run of success with a core of Castro, Brett Jackson, and Anothny Rizzo as a very potent top of the order.

Originally Posted by CODE_BLUE56

idk...

Really we won't know until a deal is made if it is good or bad for the Cubs, and even then it will probably take a year or two to find out who really won the deal.