Forget about the storylines that would come with a Red Sox trade for Anthony Rizzo.
We get it, he was a former Red Sox' draft pick who was the most painful part of prying away Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego prior to the 2011 season.
Ten years later, it just so happens that Rizzo represents perhaps a fit when fixing what ails his former organization.
With the Cubs now going all-in on becoming sellers at the trade deadline, Rizzo -- who is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season -- has been put in the crosshairs of teams needing a veteran first baseman for the stretch drive. One of those teams might very well be the Red Sox.
With Bobby Dalbec still riding the roller coaster of his rookie season, it makes a lot of sense to integrate a veteran lefty-hitting complement. You know, someone like Mitch Moreland (who is not available due to Oakland's current success).
The left-handed-hitting Rizzo would seem to fit the bill, with the four-time Gold-Glover potentially sending a powerful message that the Red Sox mean business.
There are, however, some bumps in the road waiting along the way to this reunion.
First of all, Chaim Bloom seems fairly intent on not giving up prospects for rentals. Fair enough. But the issue in this case is that it makes no sense to acquire a first baseman who is committed beyond this year when you still want to give Dalbec a chance in 2022. (It's why Kansas City's Carlos Santana, who has one more year at just more than $10 million, isn't quite a fit.)
Another issue is Rizzo's sudden problems with right-handed pitching. He is hitting just .212 against righties compared to a .347 average vs. left-handers. This is not the norm for the 31-year-old, who has hit 22 points higher against right-handers throughout his career.
Still, Rizzo's presence -- both on the field and in the clubhouse -- seems like it would be just what the doctor ordered for Red Sox team.
So, with that in mind, who says no ...
Red Sox get: 1B Anthony Rizzo.
Cubs get: Inf Michael Chavis.
Normally, thought of giving up a former first-round pick who seemed like a huge part of your future just a year or so ago for a rental would be a non-starter. But Chavis has truly become a square peg in a round hole when it comes to the Red Sox big-league team.
Chavis isn't leapfrog Dalbec at first, and Christian Arroyo seems well on his way to entrenching himself as the team's everyday second baseman. There is also that continuing issue of swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, especially elevated fastballs.
The last time the Red Sox got a complementary first baseman heading into the trade deadline they sent low-level minor-leaguer Santiago Espinal to Toronto for Steve Pearce. This is going to take a bit more. Rizzo is an iconic player in the Cubs organization who is still perceived as an everyday player. Pearce was not.
Perhaps the Red Sox would rather save Chavis for another deal. Maybe the Cubs simply don't want to part ways with Rizzo in this fashion. But a lot of this scenario makes sense. And when it comes to the business of a pennant race and building baseball teams, that's all that matters.