Deadline Coverage: More Lefty Power Headed to the Bronx

Jeff Zimmerman and I will be covering the fantasy relevant deals this week, highlighting the winners and losers and pointing out the actionable items for you in your leagues.

NYY gets: 1B Anthony Rizzo

CHC gets: CF Kevin Alcantara, RH P Alexander Vizcaíno

When I heard that Luke Voit was on the block, I thought it was to fit Trevor Story in and put DJ LeMahieu at 1B. Instead, they acquire a second lefty power hitter in the same day as Rizzo joins Joey Gallo in the Bronx. They did add to their GIDP “problem” as Rizzo brings another 10, giving them five guys with at least double digits, but I’m not really sure why that has become such a talking point for Yankees fans. The Yankees are tops in the league with 97, but the Astros have 94 and they are 10 games better than New York so it’s not really a great measure of success.

Rizzo, a free agent after this year, isn’t having his best season with a 115 wRC+, 14 HR, and 1.0 WAR in 376 PA, but he fits well in the righty-heavy lineup. While he does have a heavy home/road split this year with a .911 OPS in Wrigley and .686 on the road, he should at least be able to maintain home dominance by playing in the Bronx. The Cubs (433) have scored more runs than the Yankees (415), but Yankee Stadium is the 2nd-best HR park for lefties while Wrigley sits just 28th so this is a net positive for Rizzo’s value.

More importantly, the Yankees and their fans acquired Kevin, Rizzo’s wonderful dachshund.

CANNOT believe this remarkably important part of the Anthony Rizzo acquisition is going uncovered, but here's the real gem of the trade for New York: Kevin the Dachshund! pic.twitter.com/3dZv7xAAJ8

— Paul Sporer (@sporer) July 29, 2021

Automatic win for New York.

Kevin’s value is never less than “perfection” so this move doesn’t impact it one way or another.

Patrick Wisdom will get full-time burn the rest of the year. He has already been playing a lot, starting 17 of Chicago’s 22 games this month though he appeared in all of them. I think he will start 90% of the remaining games for the Cubs.

Voit will likely be traded tomorrow so don’t freak out too much about his playing time, but he’s on the IL right now with a knee bruise anyway.

The Cubs did very well here getting both Alcantara and Vizcaino (though it did cost them Kevin so they needed to get major returns). Alcantara becomes their 2nd-best prospect and Eric Longenhagen has put a strong ceiling on the 19-year-old outfielder. He is a long way out, but excellent raw power and speed plus a strong arm for the outfield.

Vizcaino has only pitched 6 innings this year and peaked at High-A despite being 24 years old. He looks like a future reliever. Alcantara is the prize of this deal and if they get Vizcaino to the bigs, that will be a win.