The New York Yankees today announced that they have acquired INF Anthony Rizzo and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Alexander Vizcaíno and outfielder Kevin Alcántara.
Rizzo, 31, is a three-time All-Star (2014-16) and is batting .248 (80-for-323) with 41R, 16 doubles, 3 triples, 14HR, 40RBI and 36BB in 92 games this season. Over 11 seasons with the San Diego Padres (2011) and Chicago Cubs (2012-21), he has batted .269 (1,329-for-4,940) with 730R, 284 doubles, 21 triples, 243HR, 793RBI and 645BB in 1,357 games. Rizzo has also finished in the top four in NL MVP voting twice (fourth in 2015 and fourth in 2016) and was a member of the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs.
Originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Rizzo was traded along with RHP Casey Kelly, OF Reymond Fuentes and INF Eric Patterson to the San Diego Padres for INF Adrián González on December 5, 2010. The left-handed hitter was then acquired by Chicago-NL along with RHP Zach Cates from San Diego in exchange for RHP Andrew Cashner and OF Kyung-Min Na on January 6, 2012. On May 13, 2013, Rizzo signed a seven-year contract through 2019 that included club options for 2020 and 2021.
Since 2014, Rizzo, 6’ 3”, 240lb., ranks second among NL hitters in games played (1,061) and runs batted in (656), third in home runs (204), sixth in on-base percentage (.382), tied for sixth in walks (521), eighth in OPS (.884) and 10th in slugging percentage (.502). The first baseman is a four-time Gold Glove Award winner (2016, ’18-20) and was named the 2016 NL Platinum Glove winner. Since his first full season in 2011, his .995 fielding percentage is the fifth-best at the position (min. 650 games).
Rizzo reached 30 doubles, 30 home runs and 100 RBI in three straight seasons from 2015-17, becoming only the fourth Cub to reach those marks in at least three seasons, joining Hack Wilson (four times, 1927-30), Billy Williams (three times, 1965, ‘70 and ‘72) and Sammy Sosa (three times, 1997, 2000-01). The 2016 Silver Slugger winner is one of seven Cubs with six-or-more seasons of at least 25 home runs, joining Sammy Sosa (12), Billy Williams (10), Ernie Banks (10), Ron Santo (eight), Aramis Ramirez (seven) and Ryne Sandberg (six).
The Parkland, Fla., native was named the recipient of the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award, annually given to the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Alcántara, 19, hit .360/.448/.520 (9-for-25) with 5R, 1 double, 1HR, 3RBI, 4BB and 1SB in eight games with the FCL Yankees this season. Over two minor league seasons (2019, ’21) in the Yankees organization, he hit .269/.325/.382 (50-for-186) with 31R, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 2HR, 22RBI, 12BB and 6SB in 49 games. The Santo Domingo Centro, D.R., native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 12, 2018.
Vizcaíno, 24, combined to go 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA (6.0IP, 6H, 6ER/5ER, 10BB, 7K) in six games (three starts) with the FCL Yankees and High-A Hudson Valley this season. Over five minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2016-19, ’21), the right-handed pitcher went 12-21 with a 4.95 ERA (265.1IP, 169R/146ER, 107BB, 268K) in 62 games (53 starts). The San Cristóbal, D.R., native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on May 18, 2016, and was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2020.