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]

****....

 

[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]

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]

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

[dabynsky]

Bleachernation added this update:

UPDATE: Some of the other names I’m hearing bounced around in the talks include Orlando Hudson, Casey Kelly, Keyvius Sampson, Simon Castro, Jedd Gyorko, Robbie Erlin, and Joe Weiland. Obviously the Cubs wouldn’t be getting all of them (or even most). These are just some of the names that the Cubs are interested in, or – in Hudson’s case – that the Padres want to ship back to the Cubs. A three-team deal with the Rangers (who would get Garza) is also a possibility.

The Cubs have a chance to really build a young nucleus if they trade Garza , and that is why Thed Hoystein are considering it I am sure.

 

[Mr. Cub]

I hope this doesn't happen. Wow Cubs will really blow. So far we are on pace to win 20 games.

 

[WindyCity]

I hope this doesn't happen. Wow Cubs will really blow. So far we are on pace to win 20 games.

This looks ugly right now and at this point with the pitching staff and roster I say we win 60 games tops.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

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.

ya...this seemed obvious..i would hope the cubs ask for a pitching prospect or player along with rizzo

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.

if you say so

i'm not getting the feeling on this though...isnt he a 1st baseman? i know this doesnt completely disregard fielder...but i have to wonder how this is connected to the fielder sweepstakes...is rizzo versatile?

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.

i understand what you're getting at..i just wish it was someone other than garza...who is our best pitcher...and its not like garza is an aged veteran..i mean he is a veteran..but he's 28...he's got plenty of years left

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.

this too...the idea of the trade itself is understandable..but i hate that they decided to trade garza

 

[CubbyBear2290]

Bleachernation added this update:
The Cubs have a chance to really build a young nucleus if they trade Garza , and that is why Thed Hoystein are considering it I am sure.

UPDATE: Some of the other names I’m hearing bounced around in the talks include Orlando Hudson, Casey Kelly, Keyvius Sampson, Simon Castro, Jedd Gyorko, Robbie Erlin, and Joe Weiland. Obviously the Cubs wouldn’t be getting all of them (or even most). These are just some of the names that the Cubs are interested in, or – in Hudson’s case – that the Padres want to ship back to the Cubs. A three-team deal with the Rangers (who would get Garza) is also a possibility.

Those are the ones that interest me as a fan most. But hey I'm gonna trust Theo and Co. as I've said numerous times. But these next 1-2 years are gonna be long, and people are going to have to understand it. But I do really like that Theo is sticking to his guns and doing what he said he's trying to do.

The reasoning for my liking of O-Dawg is because simply he's been of favorite of mine since he was in Toronto, and well he is better than Barney. Pretty simple reasoning.

 

[waldo7239117]

The Cubs will try to get players that are young and can help in '12.

 

[CubbyBear2290]

The Cubs will try to get players that are young and can help in '12.

Agreed, but if there young that equal growing pains and thusly not going to be an overly great team. Probably hovering around .500 at best, but they will develop (hopefully) and be good and young in the future. Achieving theo wanting to be good for a prolonged period of time.

 

[dabynsky]

ya...this seemed obvious..i would hope the cubs ask for a pitching prospect or player along with rizzo



if you say so

i'm not getting the feeling on this though...isnt he a 1st baseman? i know this doesnt completely disregard fielder...but i have to wonder how this is connected to the fielder sweepstakes...is rizzo versatile?

As far as I can, Rizzo has never played anything but 1B, and that is really the reason he is probably even available in the first place(if he really is). Trading Garza for Rizzo means no Fielder. I am not totally opposed to that. The reason I had been wanting Fielder is because the Cubs didn't have a potential impact bat to fill that spot. Rizzo gives them that guy. Brian LaHair gets a shot in this scenario, and if he plays decent perhaps he can be an answer in left field.

i understand what you're getting at..i just wish it was someone other than garza...who is our best pitcher...and its not like garza is an aged veteran..i mean he is a veteran..but he's 28...he's got plenty of years left



this too...the idea of the trade itself is understandable..but i hate that they decided to trade garza

The problem is that to get talent you have to give up talent in the first place. I would love to be able to move Marmol to get this kind of package or Zambrano or Dempster. Unforunately none of those guys have close to the value of Garza.

 

[ZDemp34]

UPDATE: Some of the other names I’m hearing bounced around in the talks include Orlando Hudson, Casey Kelly, Keyvius Sampson, Simon Castro, Jedd Gyorko, Robbie Erlin, and Joe Weiland. Obviously the Cubs wouldn’t be getting all of them (or even most). These are just some of the names that the Cubs are interested in, or – in Hudson’s case – that the Padres want to ship back to the Cubs. A three-team deal with the Rangers (who would get Garza) is also a possibility.

I really hope we get Hudson. He's been a favorite of mine for a long time. Garza for Hudson and Rizzo would solve both 1st and 2nd base. Now, we'll go nowhere without an adequate starting rotation, but nobody expected them to win the World Series in 2012.

 

[85Bears4life]

I really hope we get Hudson. He's been a favorite of mine for a long time. Garza for Hudson and Rizzo would solve both 1st and 2nd base. Now, we'll go nowhere without an adequate starting rotation, but nobody expected them to win the World Series in 2012.

Daddies3angels did