The Cubs and Rays have lined up on an eye-opening commerce prematurely of the deadline, as Isaac Paredes is on his solution to Chicago. Christopher Morel and right-handers Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson, comprise the three-player package deal heading to Tampa Bay within the different finish of the deal.
Paredes has been a preferred determine in commerce rumors in current days, with such groups because the Dodgers, Astros, Rangers, and Mariners all linked to the All-Star. As an alternative, a extra shocking suitor has gained the bidding, as Paredes will as a substitute go to a Cubs crew that sits in final place within the NL Central with a 50-56 file.
Nonetheless, it isn’t fully shocking that the Cubs have made such a daring transfer, because the crew is clearly aiming to contend in 2025 after stumbling to their disappointing consequence this yr. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned earlier this week that the Cubs’ deadline strikes could be made with a watch in the direction of competing subsequent season versus making a late run now, although Paredes is definitely a lift to Chicago’s lineup proper now.
There are additionally some long-term ties at play, since Paredes started his professional profession as a global signing for the Cubs again in 2015. He was moved together with Jeimer Candelario to the Tigers on the 2017 deadline within the commerce that introduced Alex Avila and Justin Wilson to Chicago, and Paredes made his MLB debut in a Detroit uniform in 2020.
Acquired in a commerce with the Tigers early within the 2022 season, Paredes emerged as a really productive common over his three years in Tampa. He has a 129 wRC+ over his 1377 plate appearances in a Rays uniform, highlighted by a 31-homer season in 2023 and an All-Star look this yr. Regardless of a current droop, Paredes remains to be hitting .247/.355/.438 with 16 dwelling runs this season, throughout 425 PA whereas getting common work at each nook infield spots.
Most of that work got here at third base, and Paredes figures to take proper over from Morel on the sizzling nook at Wrigley Subject. Paredes’ glovework as a 3rd baseman has been extra strong than excellent, but even common protection is an enormous improve from Morel, whose struggles within the area have been effectively documented. The correct-handed hitting Paredes may additionally spell Michael Busch (a lefty-swinger) at first base when a tricky southpaw is on the mound, and Paredes additionally has a great deal of expertise at second base, regardless that the Rays have used him solely within the nook infield spots in 2024. On paper, nonetheless, the Cubs have already got their 2025 beginning infield set, with Paredes at third base, Busch at first, Nico Hoerner at second base, and Dansby Swanson at shortstop.
Infielders Matt Shaw and James Triantos are two of Chicago’s prime prospects, so their arrival in a yr or two may additional shake up the Cubs’ infield image and maybe the place Paredes in the end finally ends up across the diamond. In maybe the important thing factor of as we speak’s commerce, the Cubs have loads of time to determine this all out, as Paredes is beneath arbitration management via the 2027 season. Paredes is incomes a $3.4MM wage this yr, within the first of 4 arb-eligible seasons by way of his Tremendous Two standing.
Though Paredes was solely simply beginning his journeys via the arb course of, that escalating price ticket certainly factored into the Rays’ choice to half methods with a controllable, productive participant who remains to be simply 25 years outdated. With payroll all the time a priority in Tampa, the Rays have by no means shied away from promoting excessive on a participant earlier than his price ticket turns into too onerous for the group, as a part of the Rays’ fixed churn of changing pricier gamers for cheaper choices that may present related or higher manufacturing.
This technique has been on full show because the begin of July, as Tampa Bay has now moved Paredes, Randy Arozarena, Jason Adam, Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, and Phil Maton within the final 4 weeks. This blitz of trades figures to proceed proper up till the July thirtieth deadline, and such names as Yandy Diaz and Pete Fairbanks have additionally been talked about as potential commerce candidates. All of those strikes have come even if the Rays are nonetheless taking part in strong baseball, as their 54-52 file has them solely 3.5 video games out of the ultimate AL wild card berth.
Star prospect Junior Caminero has been anticipated to obtain an extended look within the large leagues at this level this season, and really effectively may have been referred to as up already if his minor league season hadn’t been interrupted by accidents. With Paredes traded, Caminero now has a transparent path to common taking part in time at third base, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Caminero in Tampa Bay later this week as soon as the mud has totally settled from the crew’s deadline strikes.
Morel is just in his third Main League season, however he has so far performed at each place besides first base and catcher because the Cubs have tried to discover a appropriate solution to get Morel’s bat into the lineup. Second base may very well be a extra viable possibility for Morel now that he’s now not blocked by Hoerner, or the Rays may cycle him into their first base/DH combine as effectively.
Maybe the primary order of enterprise is getting Morel’s bat on monitor, as he has hit solely .199/.302/.374 with 18 homers in 420 PA this season. Between this 93 wRC+ and his robust defensive quantity, Morel has been a sub-replacement degree participant in 2024, with a -0.1 fWAR. It’s an unlucky setback for the 25-year-old, who hit a way more respectable .241/.311/.471 with 42 homers in his first 854 MLB plate appearances.
There may be in all probability all the time going to be quite a lot of swing-and-miss in Morel’s recreation, however even being a “three true outcomes” sort of participant has loads of utility if Morel can preserve drawing walks and placing the ball over the fence. The Rays are additionally certainly pondering {that a} change of surroundings may gain advantage Morel, or maybe that the crew’s personal workers will help him unlock some better potential (as has been achieved with Paredes and plenty of different hitters who can come via Tampa’s group).
Bigge was a Twelfth-round select of Harvard within the 2019 draft, and he made his MLB debut simply this month, amassing a 2.70 ERA in his first 3 1/3 innings (over 4 appearances) within the Present. Bigge has labored solely as a reliever in his professional profession, and delivered a 4.25 ERA throughout 159 innings within the minors, with an enormous 30.42% strikeout price but in addition a 15.06% stroll price.
The management is the largest impediment stopping Bigge from totally realizing his potential, as MLB Pipeline charges his cutter, slider, and his upper-90s fastball all as plus pitches, and his curveball additionally has promise. Nonetheless, Pipeline places Bigge solely twenty ninth of their rating of Chicago’s prospects, with these management issues in thoughts. Bigge has a lot tantalizing stuff that it’s straightforward to see why the Rays had curiosity, and given Tampa Bay’s historical past of pitching improvement, no one could be stunned if Bigge turns into a harmful bullpen weapon along with his new crew.
Johnson was a Fifteenth-round choose for the Cubs within the 2023 draft, and the Ball State product has a 3.54 ERA in 61 whole innings in 2024 (33 2/3 frames in A ball, and 27 1/3 innings at high-A). Beginning 10 of his 18 video games, Johnson has additionally proven some good potential to overlook bats, with a 32.5% strikeout price in his transient professional profession.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Instances (X hyperlink) was the primary to report that Paredes was heading to Chicago. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that the Rays have been receiving Morel as a part of a three-player package deal, and The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma reported Bigge and Johnson as the opposite two gamers.
Photograph courtesy of USA In the present day Sports activities Pictures
