Rays trade Isaac Paredes to Cubs

Rays trade Isaac Paredes to Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from the Tampa Bay Rays, beat writer Mike Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times was first to report Sunday.

ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported that the return would be utilityman Christopher Morel and a pair of prospects.

Jed Hoyer said recently that his team won’t necessarily be buyers–instead prioritizing 2025 and beyond.

“Where we are right now, I would have to say that moves only for 2024 – unless things change over the next week – we probably won’t do a lot of moves that only help us for this year,” he said, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. “If moves help us for 2025 and beyond I think we’re exceptionally well positioned. … I feel really good about how we are positioned for the future and beyond. Our moves will reflect that at the deadline.”

This fits both categories in a pretty impactful way.

Paredes, on the books for $1.1 million this season, has three years left of control and won’t be entering free agency until after the 2027 season, according to Spotrac.

He made the All-Star team for the first time in his career this season, entering Sunday with a .247/.355/.438 slash line with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 55 RBIs. Over his previous two seasons, he combined to sport a 125 OPS+–the bat has noticeably improved relative to his abbreviated two-year stint in Detroit.

Though Paredes’ underlying metrics–including his expected batting average, slugging, hard-hit rate, bat speed and barrel rate, among others–have not been encouraging this year. He ranks in the 26th percentile or worse in each of those aforementioned statistics, according to Baseball Savant.

Morel, conversely, has had a down year at the plate, but ranks in the 70th percentile or better in expected slugging, barrel rate and hard-hit rate. He owned a 90 OPS+ (.676 OPS) after 102 games entering Sunday after sporting a 112 combined OPS+ from 2022-23, his first two seasons in The Show.

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This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.

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