The Chicago Cubs will trade Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees, acquiring outfielder Kevin Alcantara and right-handed pitcher Alexander Vizcaino in the deal. Chicago will also pick up the remainder of Rizzo’s contract, after the Cubs exercised their club option in Rizzo’s contract worth $16.5 million for 2021.
Rizzo wad acquired by Chicago in 2012, and was a vital part of the Cubs National League Championship Series in 2015 and 2017 and a World Series crown in 2016, breaking a 108-year drought. The first baseman is a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glover who finished in the top 20 in MVP voting five straight years from 2014 through 2018. In the 60-game season in 2020, Rizzo won a Gold Glove while helping the team to a division crown with 11 home runs and 24 RBI. So far in 2021, he has 14 homers in 92 games.
Rizzo will take over as the Yankees primary first baseman, which has been D.J. LeMahieu’s position this season. The Yankees are only three games behind the Oakland Athletics for the second wild card spot.
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