The MLB trade deadline is just two days away, but that hasn't stopped the Chicago Cubs from pulling off an absolute blockbuster of a deal. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Cubs have traded away 3B/DH Christopher Morel, RHP Hunter Bigge, and pitcher Ty Johnson for Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes.
Paredes is in his third season with the Rays after being traded away by the Detroit Tigers in the Austin Meadows deal. Paredes is having an All-Star-level season for Tampa, launching 16 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 19 doubles, while slashing .247/.355/.438. Paredes will not only be a massive upgrade at the plate compared to Christopher Morel (.199/.302/.374), but he will also provide a solid glove at third base, with Paredes sitting in the 64th percentile (1) in outs above average (OAA) while Morel is in the 1st percentile with an OAA of -12. Jed Hoyer has lived up to his promise of looking for trades that will help the Cubs in 2025 and beyond, with Paredes under team control until 2028, and is only 25 years old.
This is a slam dunk trade for the Chicago Cubs, and while for me it hurts to see Morel go, it was a necessary sacrifice for someone who is just hitting the prime of their career. Paredes has some concerns playing at Wrigley Field, with a .711 OPS on the road, but it's an immediate and long-term solution to third base and the Cubs lineup.
There will be more to come from TDT on this trade and the MLB trade deadline as a whole, so make sure to stay tuned!
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