The Chicago Cubs have acquired first base prospect Anthony Rizzo from the Padres today in a four-player deal that sends former first-round pick Andrew Cashner to the West Coast.
Rizzo, a lefty-hitting slugger drafted by Boston under now-Cub Theo Epstein's regime and acquired by San Diego last winter as part of the prospect package in the Adrian Gonzalez trade, is expected to be Chicago's regular first baseman in 2012..
Rizzo, 22, hit .331 at Triple-A Tucson last year with 26 home runs and 101 RBIs, with a 423 on-base percentage and .652 slugging percentage. He was ranked the No. 3 prospect in the Padres system, and made his major league debut for San Diego in 2011, struggling with a .141 average in 128 at-bats in 49 games. (I believe that number of AB means he is still officially a rookie, right?)
The Cubs also sent outfielder Kyung-Min Na to the Padres, and received pitcher Zach Kates.
Escaping that pitcher's paradise San Diego to play in the Wrigley bandbox? This isn't a prediction, but just an observation .... the rookie HR record is McGwire with 49, you know ...
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20120106153028430