First Baseman Rizzo Back With Epstein

Published at 6:48 pm, January 7, 2012

Chicago Cubs (Chicago Cubs/MLB)(CHICAGO) — He traded him away in Boston, and now his team traded for him in Chicago.

Theo Epstein is once again reunited with talented first baseman Anthony Rizzo, after the Cubs received him in a trade with the San Diego Padres.

The Cubs also received pitcher Zach Cates.

The 22 year-old Rizzo hit .331 with 26 home runs and 101 RBIs in 93 Triple-A games last year.

Epstein, now the president of baseball operations for the Cubs, actually traded Rizzo to the Padres as part of the Adrian Gonzalez deal, last season.

What makes this deal even more ironic, is that current Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer was the Padres GM at that time.

In return, the Padres received 25 year-old pitcher Andrew Cashner and minor league outfielder Kyung-Min Na.