The Tampa Bay Rays have traded All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Chicago Cubs. In return, the Cubs will send third baseman Christopher Morel, right-handed reliever Hunter Bigge, and right-handed pitching prospect Ty Johnson to the Rays.
Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer stated, “As we have stated, our goal is to add players that will help us not just this season, but into the future. In the last two days, we feel we have worked toward that by trading for those types of controllable players. Acquiring Paredes adds a proven bat to our lineup immediately and for years to come.”
Paredes, who played all nine innings of the Rays’ 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, is batting .245/.357/.435 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs in 101 games this season. He earned his first All-Star selection earlier in July and hit 31 homers during last year’s breakout season.
Under contract through the 2027 season, Paredes offers versatility, capable of playing both corner infield positions and some experience at second base. This trade returns Paredes to the Cubs, where he was originally signed as an amateur free agent in 2015. He was traded to Detroit in 2017, debuted with the Tigers, and was then traded to the Rays in 2022.
The Cubs managed to acquire Paredes despite interest from other contenders, including the New York Yankees and Houston Astros.
Morel, who started as the designated hitter for the Cubs on Sunday, was replaced by a pinch hitter once the trade news broke. He was observed saying goodbye to his teammates in the dugout.
Morel, previously a key player as a super-utility man for the Cubs, has struggled this season, hitting .199/.302/.374 with 18 home runs and recording minus-5 defensive runs saved at third base. The 25-year-old bid farewell to Chicago on Instagram following the trade announcement.
The Rays are expected to see if a change of environment can help Morel realize his potential. He has played at six different positions in his three-year career and is also under team control until he reaches arbitration, which will be after next season.
Bigge, who was selected by the Cubs in the 12th round of the 2019 draft from Harvard, made his MLB debut earlier this month. The 26-year-old right-hander has a 1.17 ERA and 0.68 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and six saves in 14 games across three minor-league levels this year.
Johnson, 22, has posted a 3.54 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and one save in 18 appearances (10 starts) between Low-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend.
