CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 3: Boston Red Sox trade target Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
With the MLB’s All-Star Break finally upon us, there are only a few days left before the Boston Red Sox and the rest of the MLB shift their focus towards the trade deadline. If it wasn’t abundantly clear beforehand, the Red Sox will most certainly be buyers if they end up making a deal at the deadline. The market appears set to have more buyers than sellers due to some tight races around the league, but there still will be more than enough options available on the market for Boston.
One unexpected source of potential options is the Chicago Cubs. After starting out the season hot, the Cubs have cooled off mightily, and are looking likely to be sellers when the trade deadline approaches.
Despite their recent poor stretch, this Cubs team is still filled with talent, and they could really bring in some valuable assets depending on who they decide to deal at the deadline. They are already 8.5 games behind the first place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central division, and aren’t really in contention for a Wild Card spot either.
If the Cubs do decide to blow things up, general manager Chaim Bloom and the Boston Red Sox should be on the other line 24/7 trying to strike a deal or two with the Cubs. Here are three players on the Cubs the Red Sox should look to swing a deal for.
Boston Red Sox trade target No. 3: Anthony Rizzo
Anthony Rizzo has come a long way since he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft. After getting diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and being traded away to the San Diego Padres as part of the Adrian Gonzalez deal, Rizzo never made his debut with the Red Sox. He would make the Sox pay, as he ended up developing into one of the best first basemen in the game.
Once handed the reigns to first base with Chicago, Rizzo was basically a guy who would hit at least .270 and smack 25+ homers for six or seven seasons in a row. That streak came to an end with the pandemic shortened season, as Rizzo struggled to get going at the plate for the most part, and only hit .222 on the season.
This season hasn’t been much better for Rizzo. He’s hitting just .247 with only 10 home runs, which is a far cry from his numbers during his prime. With Rizzo turning 32 in August, playing on an expiring contract, and going through a down year, Chicago would be wise to explore trade options for the veteran first baseman.
With Rizzo struggling, his price will be driven down, and Boston could look to pounce. They have struggled to get much production out of the first base position this season, thanks in part to Bobby Dalbec’s season-long struggles.
Rizzo is struggling too, but it’s reasonable to expect him to come in and be an immediate upgrade over Dalbec at first. He has a track record of being a great hitter, and the confines of Fenway Park suit his swing quite well. If the price is right, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to allow Rizzo to finally make his long-awaited debut for the Boston Red Sox.
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July 12, 2021 at 04:35AM
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Boston Red Sox rumors: 3 Cubs players to target at MLB Trade Deadline - Chowder and Champions
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