Yankees acquire Rizzo from Cubs
The New York Yankees acquired first baseman Anthony Rizzo and cash from the Chicago Cubs for two minor leaguers Thursday in their second major trade this week for desperately needed left-handed bats.
The swap came ahead of today’s Major League Baseball trade deadline. Earlier in the day, the Yankees announced they had gotten All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from Texas.
Rizzo is batting .248 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs. The 31-year-old had been a fixture at Wrigley Field for a decade, and helped the Cubs break their long World Series drought with a championship in 2016.
The three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner is making $16.5 million this year and can become a free agent after the season.
The Yankees sent right-hander Alexander Vizcaíno and outfielder Kevin Alcántara to the Cubs.
Rizzo began his career with San Diego in 2011, then went to the Cubs in 2012. He is a career .269 hitter with 243 home runs — sixth on the Cubs’ all-time list — and 793 RBIs.
RED SOX ACQUIRE SCHWARBER >> The Boston Red Sox got slugger Kyle Schwarber from the Washington Nationals for a minor league pitcher.
Schwarber had just finished a historic homer barrage when he strained his right hamstring on July 2. The left-handed hitter has been on the injured list since then, and was unable to play after earning his first All-Star selection.
The 28-year-old outfielder was off to a smashing start in his first season with Washington, hitting 25 home runs with 53 RBIs in 72 games.
Schwarber tied a major league record by hitting 12 home runs in a 10-game span from June 19-29.
He joined the Nationals this year after six years with the Chicago Cubs.
NATS SEND HAND TO BLUE JAYS >> The Toronto Blue Jays acquired veteran closer Brad Hand from the Nationals in exchange for Triple-A catcher Riley Adams.
Hand, a three-time All-Star, is 5-5 with 21 saves and a 3.59 ERA in 41 games this season.
His career totals include a 31-48 record, 126 saves and a 3.65 ERA in 437 games with four teams. He led the majors with 16 saves in 2020.
WHITE SOX GET SECOND BASEMAN, RELIEVER >> The Cleveland Indians probably can’t catch the Chicago White Sox, so they’re helping their AL Central rival.
Cleveland traded second baseman Cesar Hernandez to the first-place White Sox for minor league pitcher Konnor Pilkington.
The White Sox have been in the market for a second baseman since Nick Madrigal suffered a season-ending hamstring tear June 10.
In Hernandez, Chicago is getting a Gold Glove defender who can bat leadoff and drive in runs. He hit .231 in this, his second season with the Indians, with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 96 games.
• The Cubs traded 33-year-old right-handed reliever Ryan Tepera to the crosstown White Sox for minor league lefty Bailey Horn.
Tepera is 0-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings this season.
MARINERS ADD CLOSER CASTILLO >> The Seattle Mariners went out and replaced the back end of their bullpen by acquiring closer Diego Castillo from the pitching-rich Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays get right-handed reliever JT Chargois and third base prospect Austin Shenton.
The move comes two days after the Mariners traded Kendall Graveman to Houston.
Castillo is 2-4 with a 2.72 ERA and a careerhigh 14 saves in 16 opportunities. He is averaging 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings.