Anthony Rizzo. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
(CBS) The Cubs acquired first baseman Anthony Rizzo and a prospect from the San Diego Padres Friday in exchange for Andrew Cashner and a prospect.
Rizzo, 22, was originally drafted by Theo Epstein in Boston in 2007. He was then traded to Jed Hoyer’s Padres last year in the Adrian Gonzalez deal. With Epstein and Hoyer now united with the Cubs, it was expected that they would make a run at the first baseman.
Rizzo batted .331 with 34 doubles, 26 home runs and 101 RBI in 93 games for San Diego’s Tucson affiliate last season. He struggled after being called up to the majors, hitting just .141 with eight doubles, one triple, one homer and nine RBI in 49 games.
Cashner was a potential starter for the Cubs this season, but was banged up with a rotator cuff strain last year.
The Cubs also sent outfielder Kyung-Min Na to San Diego in the deal and received right-handed pitcher Zach Cates in return. Cates was a third-round pick in the 2010 draft and went 4-10 with a 4.73 ERA last year at the Single-A level.
