After making an unexpected trade to acquire Isaac Paredes, the third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, on Sunday, the Chicago Cubs shocked the baseball world. In exchange, the Cubs sent pitching prospects Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson to Tampa Bay along with struggling third baseman Christopher Morel. The Cubs weren’t anticipated to add any significant players before the July 30 trade deadline, so the deal is unexpected. Given the team’s difficulties, Chicagoans were more likely speculating about potential trade targets.
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly engaged in a bidding war for Paredes, which contributed to the surprise of this deal. This occurred just a few hours before word spread that the Cubs had acquired him. Jed Hoyer showed up and took everyone by surprise, demonstrating that unexpected teams are always able to enter the picture at any time.
If Paredes keeps improving, this might out to be a wise decision made by Hoyer. This is by no means a short-term rental for a squad looking to win right away. Paredes is even more important because the Cubs will have team control over him through the 2027 campaign. This acquisition fills the Cubs’ immediate need for an impact bat and locks down the starting lineup for the next three years, even though the team is still not quite close to making the playoffs.
Initially, Isaac Paredes played for the Chicago Cubs.
Seven years after the Cubs sold Paredes to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Jeimer Candelario, the 25-year-old is back with the team. Paredes was first signed by the Cubs in 2015 as a Mexican international free agent. He appeared in 34 games after making his big league debut with the Tigers in late 2020. At the start of the 2022 season, the Tigers traded Paredes to the Tampa Bay Rays, after he appeared in just 23 games in 2021.
Paredes has hit 67 home runs with a.798 OPS in his last two and a half seasons in Tampa. His first All-Star selection this season was the result of this. Paredes has played first base, second base, and shortstop on occasion, but his primary position is third base.
The Cubs will move Christopher Morel to third base in favor of Paredes. Although Morel has a bright future, he has had difficulty this season both defensively and at the plate. With his current batting average of just.199/.302/.374, Morel’s OPS is a dismal.676. Although he does have 18 home runs and 51 RBIs, his numbers have been destroyed by what he does—or does not do—in between his outbursts of power.
Paredes, meanwhile, brings a.798 OPS into the Cubs after hitting.247/.355/.438 this season. He also outperforms Morel in terms of advanced metrics. In 2024, Paredes’ strikeout percentage is only 16%, while Morel’s is 24.5%. Even while his walk rate (12%) is higher than Morel’s (11.2%), it is still quite comparable. In addition to being a superior third baseman defensively, Paredes is currently a better hitter overall than Morel, which increases his allure.
Two pitcher prospects are given up by the Cubs.
Along with Morel in the trade were two right-handed pitching prospects, Ty Johnson, 22, and Hunter Bigge, 26,. Johnson hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since the Cubs selected him in the fifteenth round of the 2023 draft. In 18 games (10 starts) this season, split between Single-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend, he has a 3.54 ERA.
Despite making his major league debut this season, Bigge has alternated between Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs. With just 3 1/3 innings pitched, he has a 2.70 ERA for the Cubs. The Cubs were excited about Bigge as a possible future cornerstone for their bullpen.
In this transaction, the Cubs avoided having to part with any of their best prospects. It’s difficult to lose Morel, a clubhouse favorite and fan. But Paredes has demonstrated that he can mix strength and reliable contact, which will benefit the Cubs going forward.
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