MLB Trade Rumors: Cubs Interested in Anthony Rizzo?

After Saturday's huge trade that saw the Reds land Mat Latos in a deal for Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger, there is now talk that the Cubs have some interest in trading for Padres first base prospect Anthony Rizzo.

In my analysis of the trade yesterday, I wrote the following:

My second reaction to this deal was what are the Padres going to do with 4 first baseman? Yonder Alonso joins Jesus Guzman, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Blanks. Well Bowden reported that Alonso will be the Padres starting first baseman, and Rizzo will go back to AAA for "more seasoning", or could be traded. Bowden speculated that Padres GM Josh Byrnes could offer Rizzo to the Cubs, who need a first baseman and are rebuilding, for Matt Garza. I imagine the Padres would have to give up more than Rizzo for Garza. The Cubs could get more from the Rangers for Garza, possibly pitching prospect Martin Perez.

More on this after the jump:

This morning we hear from ESPN and SiriusXM's Jim Bowden reiterating what he said yesterday:

JimBowdenESPNxm JIM BOWDEN
Padres have interest in a package deal with the primary trade pieces being Anthony Rizzo and Matt Garza...should be interesting in Cubs view

This trade would make sense for both teams, as I mentioned in my article yesterday, as the Cubs appear to be rebuilding, and it would squash all talk that the Cubs are interested in signing Prince Fielder. You see, the Cubs are going to lose a lot of games with or without Matt Garza in their rotation, and Garza will become a free agent before the Cubs start winning again.

Rizzo would be one of the building blocks for the Cubs as they start their rebuilding process. He tore up AAA last year, but struggled in his cup of coffee in the big leagues. What's important to know here, is that Cub President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein was the Red Sox GM of the Red Sox when he was drafted by the team back in 2007. Current Cubs GM Jed Hoyer was also with the Red Sox at the time he was drafted, so they very well could have interest in Rizzo to be the Cubs first baseman of the future.

But I have to wonder if the Cubs could get more than Rizzo for Garza after seeing what the Reds gave up for Latos yesterday. It also would not make sense for the Padres to invest that kind of money in a pitcher like Garza when they aren't close to winning either. Garza is up for salary arbitration this year after making just under $6 million in 2011.

Will the Padres trade Anthony Rizzo?