Andrew Cashner looks back fondly on the Jan. 6, 2012 trade that sent him to the San Diego Padres and Anthony Rizzo to the Chicago Cubs.

"Sitting here, I think it was a trade that certainly worked out well for both players involved," the right-hander said.

"The pitcher got to move to a pitcher's ballpark. The hitter got to move to a hitter's ballpark."

Cashner will start for San Diego on Wednesday night with Rizzo hitting in the No. 3 spot for Chicago. It will be the first time they have met on the field since the trade that remains controversial with Padres fans.

Rizzo was one of two "major prospects" the Padres acquired from Boston on Dec. 6, 2010, in the deal that sent Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox.

"As soon as they traded for Yonder Alonso, I don't think I was in the Padres' plans," Rizzo said looking back on the 4-for-1 trade on Dec. 17, 2011, that brought Alonso, suspended catcher Yasmani Grandal and right-handed pitchers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger from the Reds in exchange for right-handed pitcher Mat Latos.

"I can understand it. Yonder was probably better suited to Petco Park than I was. So the Cashner-for-me trade made sense for everybody."