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The New York Yankees are moving closer to a deal for Chicago Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo, per YES Network’s Jack Curry. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic confirmed the report from Curry that the Yankees are acquiring Rizzo, who was not in the lineup for the Cubs earlier on Thursday vs. the Cincinnati Reds. The other team who was fighting to get Rizzo before the MLB Trade Deadline on Friday was the Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees are sending OF Kevin Alcantara and RHP Alexander Vizcaino to the Cubs for Rizzo, per Jack Curry. The Cubs are picking up all of Rizzo’s remaining salary for this season.
The Yankees are trading Alcantara and Vizcaino for Rizzo. The Cubs are picking up all of Rizzo’s remaining salary.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) July 29, 2021
The Yankees have been adamant about staying under the luxury tax, so here’s a little detail from Rosenthal:
Important detail in Rizzo trade: Whether Cubs are sending cash to Yankees to secure better prospects. Rizzo owed nearly $6M for rest of season. Rangers covered entire salaries for Gallo and Rodriguez, per @JoelSherman1. Yankees mindful of staying under luxury-tax threshold.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2021
The Cubs are expected to part ways with 3B Kris Bryant and RP Craig Kimbrel next in their mass exodus before the deadline at 4 p.m. ET tomorrow. Not to say Bryant and/or Kimbrel will be going to the Bronx along with Rizzo. The Yankees could use a shortstop at this point, a move that could get Gleyber Torres back to second base and rid Rougned Odor from the lineup. DJ LeMahieu can play at both corner infield positions, so this also could send Gio Urshela into more of a UTIL role unless a SS isn’t on the menu.
The Yankees have now added two power lefty bats to the lineup in the span of less than 24 hours. On Wednesday night, the Yankees added Texas Rangers OF Joey Gallo and RP Joely Rodriguez in a deal involving four prospects. With Gallo and Rizzo, New York has the type of LHBs it has missed for a while now. The Yankees are expected to part ways with 1B Luke Voit, who has been injured this season and isn’t a plus-defender at 1B.