The Chicago Cubs have been looking at possible deals for right-handed starter Matt Garza as they try to retool for the future, and Jim Bowden of ESPN.com is reporting that the San Diego Padres have interest in acquiring the starter. Bowden adds that a deal for Garza would likely be centered around top first base prospect Anthony Rizzo.
Rizzo, 22, was once viewed as San Diego's first baseman of the future, but the recent acquisition of Yonder Alonso in the Mat Latos trade has made him fairly redundant. We already have heard rumblings that the Cubs could be interested in acquiring Rizzo from San Diego to take over at first base in Chicago, but a deal would likely be costly from their perspective.
Generally speaking, Garza is considered Chicago's best trade chip given that shortstop Starlin Castro is off-limits, so he's the kind of asset that could allow the Cubs to demand Rizzo in a deal. The 28-year-old is under team control through the 2013 season and recently posted a 3.32 ERA over 31 starts for the Cubs. His peripheral statistics were equally as impressive, making him a particularly interesting trade piece.
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