The Chicago Cubs made a bold move ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes from the Tampa Bay Rays. The trade sees the Cubs parting ways with infielder Christopher Morel and pitchers Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson in exchange for Paredes, who has had a standout season so far.
Paredes has been a consistent performer for the Rays, hitting .245/.357/.435 with 16 home runs this season, earning him the honor of representing Tampa Bay as their All-Star earlier this month. The Cubs were clearly impressed with Paredes' production, especially given his knack for pulling fly balls, which they believe will translate well to the dimensions of Wrigley Field.
Paredes' Journey
Isaac Paredes originally signed with the Cubs as an international amateur free agent out of Mexico in 2015. However, his career took a winding path as he was traded to the Detroit Tigers in 2017. Paredes made his MLB debut with the Tigers, but he found himself fluctuating between the majors and minors from 2020 to 2021. Before the 2022 season, the Rays acquired him in exchange for Austin Meadows. His journey has now come full circle as he returns to the organization that first recognized his talents.
In his recent performance, Paredes contributed to a win over the Cincinnati Reds, though it was a quiet day at the plate for him, going 0-for-2 with a walk. Despite this subdued outing, the Cubs are banking on his overall prowess to bolster their lineup.
The Cubs' Contending Hopes
The Cubs currently sit at 50-56, six games out of a wild-card spot. Acquiring Paredes signals their intent to make a push for the postseason, banking on his offensive capabilities and defensive reliability at third base. With Paredes now in the fold, the Cubs aim to bridge the gap and revive their season.
An insider noted, "Clearly, the Cubs believe Paredes' extreme pulled fly-ball approach will translate well to Wrigley Field, and they also get a capable third baseman defensively." This sentiment underscores the Cubs' strategy of strengthening their infield while boosting their offensive potential.
Departing Prospects
The trade cost the Cubs two promising pitchers and a struggling infielder in Christopher Morel. Morel has shown flashes of power, with 18 home runs this season, but his overall slash line of .199/.302/.372 and his defensive struggles—ranking last among all players with minus-12 outs above average at third base—made him expendable. Despite these struggles, Morel remains under team control through 2028, giving the Rays a potentially valuable asset for the future.
Hunter Bigge, at 26, made his MLB debut earlier this season and has a minuscule 1.17 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings in the minors. Ty Johnson, a 22-year-old with a 3.54 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 61 innings in Single-A, is another young arm that could develop into a valuable pitcher for the Rays.
The Rays' Perspective
For the Rays, who are currently 54-52 and 3.5 games back of a wild-card spot, the trade aligns with their recent trend of moving notable players, including Randy Arozarena, Zach Eflin, and Jason Adam. By acquiring Morel, Bigge, and Johnson, Tampa Bay continues to stockpile potential future stars while adjusting their current roster for flexibility and future growth.
With this trade, both teams aim to reconfigure their rosters in a bid to either push for postseason contention (for the Cubs) or continue developing a sustainable model for long-term success (for the Rays). Isaac Paredes' return to the Cubs marks a significant milestone in his career, and both teams will be closely watched as the season progresses to see how this trade impacts their respective fortunes.