The Cubs and Rays have lined up on an eye-opening trade in advance of the deadline, as Isaac Paredes is on his way to Chicago. Christopher Morel and right-handers Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson, comprise the three-player package heading to Tampa Bay in the other end of the deal.
Paredes has been a popular figure in trade rumors in recent days, with such teams as the Dodgers, Astros, Rangers, and Mariners all linked to the All-Star. Instead, a more surprising suitor has won the bidding, as Paredes will instead go to a Cubs team that sits in last place in the NL Central with a 50-56 record.
Still, it isn’t entirely surprising that the Cubs have made such a bold move, as the team is clearly aiming to contend in 2025 after stumbling to their disappointing result this year. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said earlier this week that the Cubs’ deadline moves would be made with an eye towards competing next season as opposed to making a late run now, though Paredes is certainly a boost to Chicago’s lineup right now.
There are also some long-term ties at play, since Paredes began his pro career as an international signing for the Cubs back in 2015. He was moved along with Jeimer Candelario to the Tigers at the 2017 deadline in the trade that brought Alex Avila and Justin Wilson to Chicago, and Paredes made his MLB debut in a Detroit uniform in 2020.
Acquired in a trade with the Tigers early in the 2022 season, Paredes emerged as a very productive regular 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 appearance this year. Despite a recent slump, Paredes is still hitting .247/.355/.438 with 16 home runs this season, across 425 PA while getting regular work at both corner infield spots.
Most of that work came at third base, and Paredes figures to take right over from Morel at the hot corner at Wrigley Field. Paredes’ glovework as a third baseman has been more solid than outstanding, yet even average defense is a big upgrade from Morel, whose struggles in the field have been well documented. The right-handed hitting Paredes could also spell Michael Busch (a lefty-swinger) at first base when a tough southpaw is on the mound, and Paredes also has a good deal of experience at second base, even though the Rays have used him only in the corner infield spots in 2024. On paper, however, the Cubs already have their 2025 starting 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 top prospects, so their arrival in a year or two could further shake up the Cubs’ infield picture and perhaps where Paredes ultimately ends up around the diamond. In perhaps the key element of today’s trade, the Cubs have plenty of time to figure this all out, as Paredes is under arbitration control through the 2027 season. Paredes is earning a $3.4MM salary this year, in the first of four arb-eligible seasons via his Super Two status.
Even though Paredes was only just starting his trips through the arb process, that escalating price tag surely factored into the Rays’ decision to part ways with a controllable, productive player who is still just 25 years old. With payroll always a concern in Tampa, the Rays have never shied away from selling high on a player before his price tag becomes too onerous for the organization, as part of the Rays’ constant churn of replacing pricier players for cheaper options that can provide similar or better production.
This strategy has been on full display since the start of July, as Tampa Bay has now moved Paredes, Randy Arozarena, Jason Adam, Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, and Phil Maton in the last four weeks. This blitz of trades figures to continue right up until the July 30th deadline, and such names as Yandy Diaz and Pete Fairbanks have also been mentioned as potential trade candidates. All of these moves have come despite the fact that the Rays are still playing solid baseball, as their 54-52 record has them only 3.5 games out of the final AL wild card berth.
Star prospect Junior Caminero has been expected to receive a longer look in the big leagues at this point this season, and very well could have been called up already if his minor league season hadn’t been interrupted by injuries. With Paredes traded, Caminero now has a clear path to regular playing time at third base, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Caminero in Tampa Bay later this week once the dust has fully settled from the team’s deadline moves.
Morel is only in his third Major League season, but he has thus far played at every position except first base and catcher as the Cubs have tried to find a suitable way to get Morel’s bat into the lineup. Second base could be a more viable option for Morel now that he is no longer blocked by Hoerner, or the Rays could cycle him into their first base/DH mix as well.
Perhaps the first order of business is getting Morel’s bat on track, as he has hit only .199/.302/.374 with 18 homers in 420 PA this season. Between this 93 wRC+ and his tough defensive number, Morel has been a sub-replacement level player in 2024, with a -0.1 fWAR. It is an unfortunate setback for the 25-year-old, who hit a much more respectable .241/.311/.471 with 42 homers in his first 854 MLB plate appearances.
There is probably always going to be a lot of swing-and-miss in Morel’s game, but even being a “three true outcomes” type of player has plenty of utility if Morel can keep drawing walks and putting the ball over the fence. The Rays are also surely thinking that a change of scenery could benefit Morel, or perhaps that the team’s own staff can help him unlock some greater potential (as has been done with Paredes and a number of other hitters who can come through Tampa’s organization).
Bigge was a 12th-round pick out of Harvard in the 2019 draft, and he made his MLB debut just this month, amassing a 2.70 ERA in his first 3 1/3 innings (over four appearances) in the Show. Bigge has worked only as a reliever in his pro career, and delivered a 4.25 ERA across 159 innings in the minors, with a big 30.42% strikeout rate but also a 15.06% walk rate.
The control is the biggest obstacle preventing Bigge from fully realizing his potential, as MLB Pipeline rates his cutter, slider, and his upper-90s fastball all as plus pitches, and his curveball also has promise. However, Pipeline puts Bigge only 29th in their ranking of Chicago’s prospects, with those control problems in mind. Bigge has so much tantalizing stuff that it is easy to see why the Rays had interest, and given Tampa Bay’s history of pitching development, nobody would be surprised if Bigge becomes a dangerous bullpen weapon with his new team.
Johnson was a 15th-round pick for the Cubs in the 2023 draft, and the Ball State product has a 3.54 ERA in 61 total innings in 2024 (33 2/3 frames in A ball, and 27 1/3 innings at high-A). Starting 10 of his 18 games, Johnson has also shown some nice ability to miss bats, with a 32.5% strikeout rate in his brief pro career.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (X link) was the first to report that Paredes was heading to Chicago. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that the Rays were receiving Morel as part of a three-player package, and The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma reported Bigge and Johnson as the other two players.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Champ world champion Texas Rangers
Random
leftyleftylefty
There’s nothing random about it, if you know anything at all.
case
Entropy tends to increase in an isolated system.
Pete'sView
Great deal for the Cubs.
mustache101
Yah it’s a stupid cubs move you don’t know anything…. These moves don’t work give up prospects……. Why? Are you a seller our a buyer? Make up your mind sounds like your gm is fighting for his life
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I like it. Hopefully, Shaw and Cam will be great, but until then the Cubs now have a solid infield.
IsIt2025Already?
You looked at Paredes statcast to take a peek at home any dingers he’d have hit at Wrigley yet?
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Still better than Morel or Wisdom at 3B and becomes a utility player if Shaw or Cam pass him in depth chart.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Better than Wisdom, Morel, Bote and better than Mastrobuoni. Even if Morel wasn’t traded, he was still the besr option at 3B. Now the Cubs have Parades…. again.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Agree. Mastrobuoni should not even be on the roster as a reserve. I know he recently had one good week, but even a broken analog clock is correct two times per day.
Glad the Rays ordered the $5 Bigge bag.
Guard the Vogt
Um… Ok
Kayrall
But why
rondon
Maybe because they desperately need a third baseman and this kid helps them now and in the future. Not sure what it cost but this is a great move by Hoyer.
solaris602
Cubs have had no answer at 3B all season, and the Morel experiment there was a resounding failure. I don’t think this was so much a move for now as it is going forward for several years. Should be interesting to see what TB does with Morel who remains a raw talent without a clear position.
kidbryant
Morel would be a better player if he didn’t own a glove at all.
rondon
Just saw that it’s for Morel and Hunter Bigge and a third player. I really like Morel but third wasn’t gonna work and there’s nowhere else to put him. Bigge looks like he’s gonna be special but man, Paredes checks so many boxes. I like Hoyer pulling the trigger.
User 3222006999
I don’t like adding Bigge at all. Getting Parades back is nice for 3B and it works. As much as I like Morel, he was looking more and more like a bat without a position. Solid infield now and no rush to move Hoerner so that’s good. I’m cool with it I guess I just would have fought harder to keep Bigge out of it. I guess they 5hought getting Pearson balanced losing Bigge.
Aaron Sapoznik
Nico Hoerner could have increased value now with teams that were pursuing Isaac Paredes, including the Dodgers. Jed Hoyer is focusing on 2025 and beyond. Matt Shaw could be ready for prime time as the Cubs second baseman as soon as next season making Hoerner somewhat expendable. The Dodgers have catching depth in their system. The Cubs could dangle Hoerner in a package and potentially acquire Dalton Rushing.
User 3222006999
They don’t have to move Hoerner now as this trade fixes a big hole they had at 3B. A young catcher would now be a good thing but I’m not sure they need one RIGHT NOW. They can still keep Hoerner for this year and make the deal in the off season and have one for next year. Say you get Rushing you’re not going to shove him into the lineup. Like it or not the Catching lot is set for this year anyway. I wouldn’t mind anymore if the Cubs just kept the Pitchers they have now and see what happens the rest of the year. We finally got the pen settled mostly again so maybe we keep some of these guys for a change unless they fall apart. Unless somebody offers a pot of gold for one.
Steve Rogers
Bosox’s Teel (C) should be the Cubs target.
case
Utility players and shuffling matchups are a major component of the Rays’ success. This is a good trade beyond just needing a third baseman.
iml12
Wow. Get em cubs
Bucket Number Six
This is a good trade for them.
Mike Imanaga II
What goes through Jed’s mind will always be a mystery
cmjustice85
he just turned a huge weakness into a plus. I like morel but he can’t play the field so it makes it hard to build a team that way
Tacoshells
I thought they were sellers?
Chuck from Uniontown
They said they would make moves with an eye towards 2025. He is under control until 2028 so it makes sense.
corey
Peter Sellers?
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Corey
Your comment does not bite!
youtube.com/watch?v=lLR-V2S0DC8
SeaLVLA
Brad Sellers?
Ketch
Jeff Sellers
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Obviously it’s Mike Sellers you stoners
cubby99
Cellars.
Assdribble_Cabrera
Basements?
Jason Hanselman
Larry Sellers? Kid’s stone-walling me. Flunking English.
kylek58
So much for the Cubs being sellers
CardsFan57
This trade is building for 2025 and beyond. They might still be sellers.
User 3222006999
All Hoyer promised was any moves he made would be mostly for 2025 and later. So far he’s keeping his word. He’s mostly dealt lower level prospects for usable pieces both this year and next. Pearson is another bullpen arm and Paredes plugs a hole at 3B for awhile. I’ll give Jed credit where credit is due. So far so good.
Citizen1
Fits in with the cubs wait til next year Moto
User 3222006999
The moves he’s made so far also work well for this year also. Win-Win so far.
User 3222006999
The moves Hoyer has made so far vastly improve the team this year. It’s not inconceivable they could still go on a big run this year with a couple more moves. It’s not likely I admit, But it’s not impossible. Then I hear that Jed’s interested in Blake Snell. Now that’s the kind of dumb move you’d expect Jed to make.
Pluto9
To rid themselves of “The Hugger”
Simm
Guess it’s for next year because the cubs are toast this year.
clubberlang
DaFugg lol
cbraves
Thought they making moves for the future, Unless they flip him again in another trade?
Twoston
He’s 25 years old and under team control through 2028. This is a move for the future.
cbraves
Oh my bad. Thought I saw somewhere he was only controlled through this year. I don’t follow any Rays players though .
NashvilleJeff
Under control until 2028. So yes—-the future.
2020vision
This has flip written all over it.
Bucket Number Six
I doubt it. Cubs originally signed him. Three years of Paredes at third base which has been lacking since Bryant was traded.
AL B DAMNED
Must be moving Bellinger!
Are they going to pickup Josh Bell..??
solaris602
No, no, no, you don’t want Josh Bell. Most years he doesn’t show up until mid season. He had a decent first half this year because it’s a walk year. Inconsistency has always been his calling card.
Russell Branyan
Hahaha hahaha! What the hell is Hoyer doing!?! Suppose he could help next year, but why pay a premium for the next 2 months of his deal.
Oldguy58
He Is arbitration eligible for the next three seasons
kidbryant
He didn’t pay a premium.
Russell Branyan
Unless you think no contenders were in on him, yes he did. A team like Houston is factoring his play this year heavily into their valuation, and Hoyer had to beat any other offers.
kidbryant
Houston wasn’t after Padredes.
geno711
Well, the Tampa Bay beat writer that broke the story of the trade had just this week said that the Dodgers, Yankees and Astros were all in on trying to get Paredes.
mrmackey
He gave up a Bigge prospect…
Dogbone
@Russell: What Premium?
jade 2
TB liked Morel.. Morel has no position and future with the Cubs so they were able to flip him for a legit 3B in Paredes.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Morel’s “best” defensive position is 2B and Brandon Lowe isn’t going to be there next year. So Morel and maybe Curtis Mead will be able to split 2B.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Seems very light for Tampa Bay. Just giving away a controllable third baseman for refried beans and a sombrero.
dodgers33dodgers
Hoener to Dodgers?
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Parades back with the cubs. I love this trade.
Guard the Vogt
Back? He never played there before
Oldguy58
He was in the Cubs system
shibbyhimmy03
They signed him
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
He was traded to the Tigers with Jaimer Candelario for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson. I think that was in 2017
kidbryant
Ummm, yes he did! He signed as an international free agent in 2015 with the Cubs and was in the system for 2 years until traded to Detroit in the Alex Avila/Candelario deal.
Guard the Vogt
kidbryant, Ummm so he never played in Chicago…
thefallensoldier
No one said he played in Chicago, the comment was that hes back with the Cubs, which is factually correct.
Guard the Vogt
… But, I did… So, you’re wrong
Denunzio
Guard – you WRONG
Buy a clue, pay attention
Parades started his career with the cubbies, and Isaac went to DET in the Candelario deal yrs ago.
Guard the Vogt
You should pay attention goofy
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Nevermind it was for Morel
Champ world champion Texas Rangers
Yandy Diaz next rays are blowing it up point blank and Peter Fairbanks, the Yankees is cooking
Ketch
Chris Morel?
sports_fan9921
He left the game.
solaris602
Dude was only gonna be a DH for CHC in the foreseeable future. I have to think TB will trade Diaz and try to make Morel a 1B.
User 3222006999
Good luck wit dat as we say in Chickago. You do know Morel almost cut his left arm off and can’t really close his glove hand all the way right? Is that he guy you want at 1B? Well if you didn’t you do now.
Citizen1
18 hr but ops in 650. More like a singles pop fly hitter where the fly ball clears the fence on luck.
King Floch
“ATTENTION: The Cubs are buyers. Please disregard previous statement that ‘the Cubs are sellers.’ Thank you.”
sports_fan9921
No one ever said sellers.
King Floch
It was a s***post, my brother.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Why on earth are the cubs buying??? Jed hoyer must’ve done the deal while intoxicated
King Floch
3 more years of control, bro.
They just got a MONSTER cleanup hitter for 2025-2027.
Baseball77
The Cubs hope that the last two months of Paredes’ 2024 season isn’t indicative of future production. He’s been really bad since the start of June.
King Floch
Paredes has an .800ish OPS and 126 OPS+ in just under 1400 PAs since the start of 2022 while averaging 30+ bombs and 70 BBs per 162 in that time period. And he’s only 25. And he has 3 more years of cheap control after 2024.
He’s a beast, dude. The Cubs just got 3.5 years of a BEAST.
Baseball77
I understand he is good and not a one year rental. My point is that he is on an extended slump and the FO probably got a bit of a discount in the trade, secretly hoping there isn’t a long term issue.
ChrisEnvy76
How are you people confused about them buying? Morel, Bigge, and Johnson are NOTHING for Paredes. Paredes is further along in his hitting than Morel and they are both 25. The Cubs said for awhile now that they are trading for guys that will help them in more than just 24. This is exactly that.
rondon
Well, I’m thinking Morel and Bigge are way more than nothing. Morel could still breakout. He’s shown serious flashes in Chicago. And Bigge, if they can figure out his control issues, has huge potential with 2 to 3 plus pitches. Tampa has a way of figuring it out.
King Floch
It’s the rare buy-for-later move, wherein an opportunistic team swoops in and grabs a big time player with plenty of control who’s available at the deadline in a year they aren’t competing because they think they can compete in the next year or two.
I think it was brilliant tbh.
ChrisEnvy76
For an All-Star at a position of desperate need? I’d say they did very well. They traded “potential” for proven success. I like the trade.
cbhlarms28
Monster? Yeah, that’s a stretch.
rememberthecoop
Not much of a baseball fan, are you King? This trade is for next year and 2026. He is not a rental. Geez.
drasco036
Exactly. Jed “we are selling” also Jed “give me the best hitter available at the trade deadline” this is a huge freaking deal for the Cubs. May not matter this year but Paredes is exactly what this team needs moving forward. However if Bellinger comes back strong and Suzuki stays hot like his second half last year, watch out rest of the league.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
The Cubs just pulled off a highway robbery. What in the world are they doing in Tampa Bay?: I thought these guys are supposed to be smart, but the returns on all of these deadline trades have been bizarre AF except the Adam deal.
User 3222006999
You don’t look or think a whole lot before you type all the time do ya?
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I thought I did. I’ll try to be more careful.
Jordan’s cardinals
Well that just means that Nico or happ has to go right I mean it makes since.
Bucket Number Six
No, the Cubs infield looks set for the next couple of seasons. They may have the best third baseman in the division now.
radhippo
Must be more to this…
King Floch
MONSTER get for Da Cubbies of the next few years tho.
bus035
I’m guessing Moises Ballesteros has to be going back to Tampa.
kidbryant
Morel, not Moises
User 3222006999
I would have rather given you Ballesteros than Bigge but that’s just me. Ballesteros can hit but then you’d have 2 guys who are Bats without a position. Because Ballesteros can’t catch. he’s horrible.
alwaysgo4two
Well, here comes Junior Cameniro I’m guessing from AAA. Paredes has been slumping for 2 months after a hot start.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
I was surprised that Cameniro is batting leadoff for Durham tonight. I guess they will wait until Wednesday to promote him.
Johnson 2
道奇又搶輸了,道奇今年不補強了
Guard the Vogt
Si
Baseball_dude
What a stupid move by the cubs
jdgoat
Why is it stupid?
kidbryant
How so?
King Floch
No actually, it’s brilliant.
The Cubs just got their cleanup hitter for their runs in 2025, 2026, and 2027.
Longtimecoming
I love it since the Dodgers were reported to have wanted (needed) him.
Sideline Redwine
yes, getting rid of hole-in-the-lineup Morel, a 26-year old “prospect”, and a fourteenth round draft pick for an all star. Tell us you don’t know MLB without telling us…
Baseball_dude
Actually I know baseball pretty well after 40 years of following, but I will say this, I got confused with Parades Contract, I thought he was going to be a FA the year after next, but after looking, I seen that he still has 3 years remaining. And where is Morel a Prospect? He’s 25 years old and this is his 3rd year in the Majors..
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
@BaseballDude I hope you are being facetious.
Digdugler
How does the Rays GM keep doing it!?!
2020vision
Exactly! AJ. Preller got jealous of Tampa’s trade volume and just changed his name to Ray J. Preller.
Sideline Redwine
it’s easy to give away good players for lotto tickets…
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I know , I thought that that front office was supposed to be smart. But they seem to be giving their players away for peanuts (except they fleeced Preller.)
User 3222006999
So you’re saying that the Rays FO and scouts are good at picking Pitching prospects but they are too dumb to find talent on other teams that they know they can use? Do you use the phrase” I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin” a lot? See what I mean about you not thinking before you start typing all the time? Those 2 pitching prospects are good P’s.
LarryBiitnersGhost
Morel AND prospects? I’ll be anxious to see who is included.
LarryBiitnersGhost
Bigge and a pitcher from South Bend are the prospects.
Good move. Loved Morel’s energy but just never had the right fit. Hopefully this means the end of seeing Wisdom & Bote in the lineup at 3rd.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
I hate that Hunter Bigge was involved in this trade too.
Senioreditor
He’s their 29th rated prospect.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Doesn’t matter he has Closer stuff. Plus they had Luke Little in the bullpen. Bigge and Litte in the bullpen. Would’ve been a nice 1-2 punch
geno711
I get looking at prospect ranking.
But sometimes just looking at his stuff and what he was done the last year counts as well.
The guy is essentially major league ready right now and under control for a number of years. He may or may not work out, but seriously is a better get than most teams 10th rated prospect at this point.
Are you betting that the Rays will not turn him into an effective reliever?
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
He’s gonna be potentially be an elite closer
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Importantly for Tampa, Bigge has a bunch of option years left so they can shuttle him between Tampa and Durham five times for each of the next two seasons.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Well yeah. He made his ML debut this year. He was optioned in between a double header before the ASG. He has a huge upside.
CFS77
100 MPH fastball that he can put at the knees and a 12-6 hammer. Rays have a proven track record of maxing out talent. Biggie will be the next primer closer on baseball next to Mason. Don’t doubt the Rays when it comes to developing talent. Too long of a history of success
Jason Hanselman
Sounds like Pete Fairbanks. I haven’t seen Bigge yet, but what I’ve read from those who have watched him is pretty exciting
johnrealtime
He has been below average his entire pro career except for 18 innings this year
I’m not saying he is bad or will be bad but I am very happy with this trade from the cubs perspective
Camden453
I don’t understand why the Rays blew it all up. The team might have won the wild card. They were among the contenders
Baseball77
The Rays are becoming the east coast version of the Oakland A’s. They’ll probably move their team to Jacksonville while they wait for Tallahassee to build them a new stadium.
Camden453
Actually they just approved a new stadium being built in St Petersburg
Baseball77
My post was tongue in cheek. I was trying to show how they were becoming more like the A’s by giving a silly idea of how they could further become alike.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
It’s about time. Holy shiitake. I’ve never been to Tropicana Field. I’ve heard it’s bad though. Like Metrodome bad. And I only went to the Metrodome once. It was somewhere between 1991-97 because Knobluach was on the Twins.
geno711
They blew it up because the chance at the wild card was 15 percent.
I am not sure that felt among the contenders to me.
kcmark
Because their talent is getting costly while Baltimore gets younger and better. They were not going to make the wild card.
Rays in the Bay
They were going nowhere. Think of the Marlins last year and that was the Rays this year. Awful run differential and very lucky to be in contention. However most of the wins are because of the pitching and not the hitting, so it made sense to start selling sooner than later. They would just get trashed in the playoffs the third year in a row. What I don’t get is just the awful packages they have gotten. The package for Adam seems fine but they’re really overthinking themselves trying to find a diamond in the rough… When they really don’t need to because the guys they traded have actual value.
Jason Hanselman
Blew what up? Morel replaces Randy, Caminero replaces Isaac. Springs for Eflin. Rasmussen for Adam. The talent level of the team hasn’t changed, though they were able to add a few more years of control and about a dozen prospects who they don’t need to hit on all of to be happy about the moves. Three back of a WC now. Will be exciting to see if they can pull this off.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Wow I’m surprised the cubs traded morel but he had no clear position in Chicago
Paredes seems like a jeimer candelario but with more power
King Floch
126 OPS+ with 30+ bombs and 70 BBs per 162 since the start of 2022 and he is only 25.
They just added a legit BEAST in his prime to their 2025-2027 lineups.
Haunted mansion
Wrong, he has hit 31 hrs one time in his career so please stop with the he is averaging 30+ hrs, it’s embarrassing
King Floch
It’s his average per 162.
Over almost 1400 PAs.
Over almost 3 years.
That’s good btw.
ChrisEnvy76
I feel like what you just did was actually embarrassing.
jbigz12
Paredes stat cast data has not been impressive for the last 2 years despite the strong surface level numbers. Rays could look very good for this move in a few years.
ChrisEnvy76
You can check his strikeout and walk ratios in the same stat cast. He produces and can play his position. I feel like there are a lot of people on MLB Trade Rumors that are just anti anything the Cubs do.
jbigz12
Walks and K’s are good. His underlying numbers do not suggest that his slugging is truly at the level he’s been at though. Different hitter if you were to halve his power output. I have no feelings towards the cubs. Just numbers.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Morel is negative WAR for good reason: he’s worse than a replacement player.
Jump 84
Might come back to bite back. Go cubs. Its gonna happen. Again. Lets get it. What would Theo do.
Digdugler
54-52 and the Rays are going scorched earth
Mustard Tiger
Foolish move. I suspect Paredes will be with the Cubs longer than Jed Hoyer.
b00giem@n
My Reds are done. Keep waiting to hear we’ve traded for anyone at all but with CHI apparently buying and PIT trying I have to come to terms with who runs out front office.
Poohbear
After that 8th inning, yup..
chip1017
Good deal all around, I believe
King Floch
I think Da Cubbies just did an oopsie…
…to the rest of the NL Central for the next 3.5 years.
Paredes is an absolute BEAST in his prime. The Rays should not have traded him this early in his team control years.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Yes we get it that paredes is the 2nd coming of big bear Marcell ozuna
It’s good to be happy when your team trades for a good player
King Floch
I’m not a Cubs fan, I’m an Orioles fan.
Sideline Redwine
if you are yankees or red sox fan, sure. This is a terrible trade for the Rays.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
NO, NO IT WAS NOT A GOOD DEAL ALL AROUND.
its_happening
Really good return for the Rays. Morel has potential, they get a bullpen guy that’s ready to contribute and another arm.
Cubs have a controllable player the next few years as they make a charge for the NL Central division the next few years.
shark stitches
Is it? It looks to me like the Cubs destroyed the Rays in this trade.
its_happening
Not a chance.
Sideline Redwine
In what world? Morel is awful–sure, he had potential a few years back, but just watch him, he is terrible. A 26 year old…prospect? And what round was the other guy chosen in? I appreciate the optimism, but as a Rays fan I am absolutely underwhelmed by any of the returns for these trades. lottery tickets that may play in three or four years? For guys who are good now…and might help next year? Bigge can’t throw strikes–I mean, hello, the Cubs pen is awful…don’t you think he would be pitching regularly if he was good?
its_happening
This world.
Parades is as good as he’ll ever be today. That’s a good acquisition for the Cubs, and you’re making it sound as if the Cubs didn’t do well here. They filled a 3B void with a controllable player.
Morel has a chance now to play a position he won’t suck at, and perhaps the bat will flourish. Why question the Rays when they’ve done well in past trades many felt they’ve lost? And, Parades was a guy left for dead until he became a Ray.
Your bullpen arm should have been in your bullpen. Your Cubs only gave him a few opportunities. What, Cubs are suddenly the greatest franchise when it comes to personnel decisions?
Rays now bring their star prospect up. Like Morel, Parades was expendable. It’s a really good deal for the Rays.
Rays in the Bay
Have they brought anyone up?? They will simply bring in a cheap veteran on a minor league deal to fill the position. Remember the Rays Way: “seasoning seasoning seasoning!”
Jason Hanselman
Are you familiar with a player named Junior Caminero? Some folks think he’s one of the best up and coming players in the game.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
@Sideline SMH at the Rays FO…what are they doing??? They did fleece Preller though for Adam. But these other returns have been middling at best!! They must be playing some high level 7th generation 3-D Chess or something that I don’t understand
Camden453
Excellent move by the Cubs. 3 more years of Paredes and you get rid of Morel
Cost is only a couple middling pitching prospects
Rays could have got more for Paredes than this
geno711
Saying the Rays could have got more for Paredes than this is like you thinking you know a Michelin restaurant better than the chef because you read a Yelp review.
Rays trade record is not perfect, but it tends to be better than the average fan thinks when they make the trade.
Sideline Redwine
Nope, this was bad. None of those three appear worth it–I have watched Morel sukk for a couple years now, a pitcher who cannot throw strikes (he’s 26 for goodness sake), and a fifteenth round draft pick.
Yes, the RFO knows more than I do, but fans are not stupid.
its_happening
There are enough comments in nearly every story on this website that would disagree with you here.
Rays in the Bay
They outsmarted themselves in every single trade this year. Arozarena and Eflin were very unimpressive. Adam trade at least brought some value in the system. But all are just lottery tickets and this very unexciting.
bravesfan
Dumb. Cubs need to stop. They aren’t contenders, they should be selling a little. This is brutal. Good for Tampa for taking advantage of dumb.
vertigo
Parades for 3 more years and he is only 25 — Good move on Cubs part actually.
chisports18
What is dumb about this move? Please explain. Cubs are getting a young, proven player at 3rd base whom is controlled for another 4 years and they got rid of Morel who has a lower batting avg than Michael Jordan and has no position. I’d consider this a win.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
You sound jelly, bravesfan.
ChrisEnvy76
How in the world did this comment get a thumbs up? Troll account?
norcalblue
Great move, it seems, for Cubs. Never count out Rays ability to find jewels; but neither BA or FanGraphs have these guys on their radar. Parades is heads and tails above Morel.
Sideline Redwine
Morel can join Walls, Jackson, Siri, and Deluca as automatic outs in the lineup.
It’s almost like the RFO wants to have no offense.
Sk8
Watch Morel blossom into a star in Tampa Bay.
Bucket Number Six
That’s a possibility, but probably at first base, left field, or DH.
Fred K. Burke
As a Cubs fan I hope Morel does. Never want to wish failure or negative stuff against anyone. Besides, everything I hear about Morel is all positive. Solid guy, good teammate, good energy. Maybe a new team and fresh start does it.
Rays in the Bay
Just like Taylor Walls and Curtis Mead. Fact is most don’t blossom with TB
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
That’s ok if he does as long as Paredes does what they expect of him. If he can’t play 3B there was really nowhere to put Morel in the lineup against RHP once Bellinger comes back from injury and moved to RF and pushes Suzuki to DH.
YaGottaBelieveAgain
For all the teams with interest in Parades I’m surprised this was the return TB liked the best? SEA, HOU, NYY, LAD, many more.
Morel can only be used as a DH but his power is game wrecking.
TB must really like the other 2 players.
I could see trading Yandy who is older but Isaac was only age 26 and cheap about 3.6M. Definitely getting a raise in arbitration but still.
Would have been great for HOU (1B) or SEA
This seems rushed timing on TBs part to me ???
GMs have a lot more info, scouting reports etc. SOO
Blackpink in the area
Yeah great move by the Cubs. Can’t believe the Rays couldn’t do better.
Dogbone
Don’t sell Bigge short – he’s ready to perform at a solid level.
Sideline Redwine
if so, then why wasn’t he pitching regularly for the Cubs, whose bullpen is notoriously bad?
User 3222006999
Maybe you should pay more attention because the Cubs pen has been the best in the NL for the last Month plus. He would have been right back up if and when the Cubs moved a bullpen arm. He’s a future closer. His stuff is filthy. And don’t sleep on Johnson either, he was a recent draft pick and already at High A. You got a good deal. It was a good trade for both teams. In fact lately the Cubs pitching has been the best in baseball since late June.
its_happening
One organization builds pitching (Rays), the other doesn’t?
User 3222006999
Another guy who says the Rays FO and Scouts know pitching but traded for guys with no talent? Double speak much? Think about it, It’ll come to you.
its_happening
Easy UncleMike you don’t even know your own roster and that was proven not too long ago.
What, you’re finding a way to be upset at a trade that fits your Cubs because I said it was a good trade for the Rays?
You’re unable to be happy. Think about it, it’ll probably never come to you.
User 3222006999
Sounds more like you were bashing the Cubs. And the Cubs are building a really good pitching farm system. 2 years ago the Cubs drafted 18 pitchers. They’re just starting to move up the ranks. They have a lot of talent and other teams know it. So many in fact that they can move a few in fact. Now you know. And I am happy and it was a good deal for both teams IMO.
its_happening
I wasn’t bashing the Cubs. But let’s face it, Tampa has had a good track record with trades. More good than bad. They could make this kind of deal because of a future 3B in-waiting, and their ability to improve pitchers they acquire.
This trade for the Cubs helps them the next 3 years, and the players they dealt were expendable – like Parades was expendable for Tampa. This is a win win.
Moonlight Graham
Isn’t Matt Shaw supposed to be the future at third base? I don’t follow the Cubs’ farm very closely, but I thought he was in line to take over soon-ish?
chisports18
Hopefully this FO is maybe coming to their senses a little bit and realizing that potential doesn’t necessarily mean results.
AlistairC
Parades can play multiple position-third is best, but he isn’t a scrub elsewhere-so if Shaw forces issue they have options to use both.
Bucket Number Six
Shaw is looking more like a second baseman. Triantos will probably be moved to left field. No rush to promote them now.
robert-5
Shaw’s still figuring out AA, and has a sub-par arm. Cubs want to win next yr, cant just sit by and hope the kids develop. When he’s ready, they’ll find ABs for him. Parades can play 1B too.
Dogbone
Shaw is more of a 2B, or maybe even a corner OFer.
stymeedone
So Paredes can play 1B or 2B if he’s not playing 3B. This doesn’t block anyone.
User 3222006999
Cubs are finally realizing Moonlight that just because you draft and sign 11 SS’s and tell everybody that they can play anywhere they’re finally finding out it’s not a reality. That’s why the first 2 picks this year were 3B. Now we have 10 SS’s since we dealt Rivera but most of the other experiments to move guys to 3B haven’t been ultra successful. In fact Triantos and Shaw are now playing SS and 2B for Tennessee because Jed wants to win the Southern League again this year.
Moneyballer
This trade doesn’t really clarify if the cubs are buyers or sellers. How much of an upgrade is Paredes to Morel IF AT ALL?! At some point Morel could be an offensive monster, it just won’t be with the cubs. This one doesn’t move the needle in my opinion.
King Floch
It’s a MASSIVE upgrade actually.
126 OPS+ with 30+ dingers and 70 BBs per 162 as pretty much an everyday player since the start of 2022. Paredes is a legit MOO bat.
Haunted mansion
Again, please stop with the 30+ plus hrs since 2022, he has hit that exactly 1 time
King Floch
I bet you think pitcher wins are a useful stat lol.
Moneyballer
You use the word massive too loosely. The bats are close to a wash…the thing the cubs will benefit from is no longer having to play someone who isn’t a 3rd baseman at third anymore. This is a bandaid fix for a mess they made!
Jason Hanselman
This. Morel is likely a better bat over the next few years, but he gives back more than whatever that gap is by not being able to field a position. Isaac has seen great translation, let’s see if that continues in a park that ranks only below Baltimore and Miami in HR park translation for Isaac’s home run count this year.
Bucket Number Six
Paredes is probably a 3 WAR player the next three years. Can’t wait for Morel to figure it out any longer.
robert-5
They are neither true sellers or buyers. They are trying to improve the team w an eye towards next year and beyond. It’s more of a winter trade, but Cubs saw an opportunity to acquire a player they like for an acceptable return.
Morel has loads of tools and potential, but Parades is already a good ML player.
Moneyballer
Cubs FO is deluded at best. They never understood what they had in Morel. This goes back to last year when they optioned him to the minors after having a huge spring training which carried into the year. I’m glad Morel is no longer with them, now he can be a force for a club that actually values him. I bet you anything they look back in a few years and think….wow and we gave up 2 pitchers for the downgrade.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Which position was Morel going to play in Chicago to get 20 PA/wk, once he showed he’s not a reasonable 3B?
ChrisEnvy76
This is a terrible take. Morel is not good. Maybe he will figure it out with Tampa, he never did in Chicago. Honestly, you are the one sounding delusional here.
Jason Hanselman
Designated Hitter?
stymeedone
@moneyballer
“At some point Morel could be an offensive monster…”
It’s always an upgrade when you replace a “could be” with an “already is.” A “could be” has potential to become a “never was.” Paredes also plays better defense. I would also expect Wrigley field to help his stats.
Moneyballer
The real offensive monster that no one is talking about is Paredes replacement at 3rd. Junior Caminero. Watch Paredes slip back to the player he was with detroit. Cubs did poorly in this one, Rays clearly won!
Jason Hanselman
Morel replaces Randy, Junior replaces Isaac. Exactly.
dshires4
It’s a weird move but the Cubs also gave up next to nothing to get him.
rotofool
It is an upgrade at 3B for the Cubs for the price of two young arms. Morel can carry a team for short stretches with the bat, but gives back runs in the field. This is a positive move for the Cubs, although the Rays will likely hit on one or both arms. Still a good move by Hoyer.
Meanwhile, crickets on the South side…
PutPeteinthehall
Don’t worry. Fedde and Crochet will be traded. Doubt Eloy gets them much but maybe someone will take him too. I think Kopech has blown/lost more games than he’s saved. Watch whoever picks him up shifting him back to starting. He’s a head case too.
Prospects are what’s needed. Crochet trying to call the shots at trade time sucks. What’s in the contract the contract he signed that does he not understand? He talking like a football player that has no education and has been hit upside the head a 1000 times.
Some of the players the WS drafted and others that they signed were poor decisions. The front office still stinks as does ownership.
This is a total train wreck. There are a few building pieces but not much. Hopefully Jerry retires and someone competent comes
in to rebuild. I still believe they will move half a dozen players. Cubs had really no one to move with Bellinger being hurt. This was a great get for them. A good third baseman is almost
Impossible to get for the price they paid. Even if Morel pans out it was still a good deal for a team that believes they can eventually emerge in a not so strong division.
Camden453
3 years of a 127 OPS+ hitter for two average pitching prospects and Christopher Morel, who the Cubs were desperate to get rid of
The Rays have lost the mojo I think
King Floch
I’m utterly dumbfounded that they traded Paredes this early in his team control years. Dude is 25 and already a monster. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good for my O’s to not have to face him so much, but still. Wow.
GREAT for the Cubs though, they’re looking prrretty good for the next few years.
Bucket Number Six
Paredes can be expensive in arbitration with the homers. Rays didn’t want to pay him.
King Floch
Even they should be able to afford his arb-2 salary next year (he’s a Super Two so he gets arbitration 4 times). He would have been a great bat to have in their lineup behind all of the pitching talent they are getting back in 2025, like McClanahan.
Jason Hanselman
It is highly likely we have already seen the best performance Isaac Paredes will have in the Bigs.
This one belongs to the Reds
Good for the Cubs. The shroom had no place there so go get someone useful.
Better than sitting on your hands for two years.
frankf
Cubs aquire one of their forgotten former prospects as they shakily balance on the wall between selling and buying. Feels quite familiar.
CubsAreMidButTheresAlwaysHope
Morel is one of the absolute best people in MLB, Tampa’s going to love him as a person. And while I think Christopher is going to get it going with his bat (the average anyway), the real steal of this deal for Tampa is getting Bigge. He’s going to be special.
Blackpink in the area
Hard not to like this move if you are a Cubs fan. They had loads of great prospects and didn’t give any of them up in a deal to fill their biggest need.
As for the Rays yuck.
CarolinaCubsandKush
Wondering if this move could have happened in the offseason. Still love the trade. Jed knows he has to shake it up somehow.
JT70
Funnily enough this is still a continuation of the Delmon Young trade tree. Rays originally got Paredes for Austin Meadows, who they got from the Pirates in the Archer deal (along with Glasnow), with Archer being one of the main pieces in the deal that sent Matt Garza to the Cubs (so a bit of a full circle here too), with Garza being part of the trade for Delmon Young.
Bob Lablah
The greatest trade tree ever and its still going strong!
SadMsFan
That was all the Rays got? Seriously? The Mariners didn’t offer you a way better deal? Or have you guys never heard of Emmerson Hancock, Harry Ford or Logan Evans? Any one of which would have been a better pickup for you guys than the three guys you got…Yikes! Well executed robbery Cubs!
Sideline Redwine
I was hoping for Ford, in some deal. But nope. Just some lottery tickets who may play in a few years, leaving the next few years barren.
Lankster19
Way to go to Jed. Was actually able to dump Morel for 3 full years of Paredes! I don’t understand how anybody can’t see that Morel is never gonna be anything more than what he is. Morel was never a Cubs top prospect and was turned into Paredes lol. Bigge did look nasty tho. But Nate Pearson is the same type of arm to work on. Good work Jed
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Did Jed just save his own a$$ ? Nice one Jed, you saw the writing on the wall and pulled one out of your butt.
Chicks dig bunting
Cubs got the probably first baseman of the future. Because shas will be at 3 base wonder if belly or horner might go next and a pitcher
Bucket Number Six
I doubt they trade Hoerner now.
Melchez17
As a Tiger fan, I would not be shocked if Morel becomes an all star and Paredes decides to join Hamas and doesn’t show up in Chicago. I think we can officially say the Tigers lost the Paredes / Meadows trade.
Bob Lablah
My buddy that works for the Rays said B. Lowe and Fairbanks are next to get traded.
Dogbone
Trading Lowe now that Morel is there, would make sense. Morel just needs time to readjust to 2B, I think he’d do fine there.
Sideline Redwine
lol, i am sure your “buddy” loves that you telegraph future trades.
And this is giving you some serious benefit of the doubt.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Man I wish I had a buddy who worked for the Rays so I could then spill secrets on MLBTR and get Hella clicks.
Prsabroso
Love the move. Paredes is better than Morel. Who the hell is Ty Johnson? Biggie is the dark horse if he becomes a killer closer for a while.
Monkey’s Uncle
Hate to say it as a Pirate fan, but great move by the Cubs. Paredes is a much, much better piece to build with and around than Morel IMO. Rays did well enough with their total haul but the Cubs made the shrewder move here.
Ferpad
Rays have gotten a lot of value in these trades, but don’t understand this one. Paredes still had several years of control and this is the best they can do?
A multi-position guy that can’t play average defense, a reliever and a 2023 draftee.
They did much better with the Eflin, Adam and Arozarena trades.
Sideline Redwine
Did they? We’ll know in a few years, but none of those guys impress me much.
And why all the delays? Most of those guys won’t be available for three years if they ever make it…what about next year or the year after? RFO gutted this club (that is still in it this year btw) with no top prospects to show for it.
Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman
Rays are so cheap. In not sure who had less fans the Marlins open Rays????
straightuphonestguy
Not doubting the Rays, but at what point do you have too many prospects? Unless they’re solely acquiring recent draftees they’re gonna lose a ton to the Rule 5 Draft.
Jason Hanselman
This is the worst season for their collective minor leagues in probably a decade. Normally they have winners up and down the line, but 5 straight playoff appearances have drained the coffers. The entire system was desperate for an injection at all levels, and it seems they have done that.
16
They probably use their massive amount of depth (9 of the recent prospect additions were inserted into their top 30) to do a quantity for quality trade. Just blow someone away with # of good not great prospects for a stud or two. B/c otherwise they will lose good talent they spent time and money developing to rule 5.
Jason Hanselman
It was insightful that they targeted so many guys drafted in 2023 for the very reason you mention. Those guys have a couple years before they become 40 man/Rule 5 concerns.
straightuphonestguy
Thanks for the insight, I wasn’t familiar with the system. Crazy crazy depth.
DarkSide830
Wow, I’m still willing to be patient on Morel, but this looks like teh Cubs got a top 5 3B in the game for David Kingman right now.
Monkey’s Uncle
Hey now, Dave Kingman had multi-positional flexibility too: he was absolutely terrible at all four corners.
King Floch
Super accurate lol.
Kingman was such a Chad.
-arrives
-hits ball 450 feet or strikes out on 3 pitches
-refuses to elaborate
-leaves
Devlsh
Statcast indicates Paredes would have 13 less HRs if he’d played in Wrigley Field the last three years…
Tim Apple
Do doubles not count as hits anymore or something?
Jason Hanselman
Lofted fly balls usually go for outs, not doubles.
16
Not necessarily at Wrigley, balls off the ivy are automatic doubles so maybe half of those are hits vs. outs and don’t forget they play half their games at other parks.
Jason Hanselman
You might be right, but the way he hooks the ball the extra ~40 feet of foul line is going cause some of those to turn foul in addition to balls now dying at the warning track. It’s a massive difference from the Trop, in the corner, at least, and that’s where many of his homers have gone. How many balls bounce off the wall versus are harmlessly caught in medium to deep?
Butter Biscuits
Seems like the rays don’t really care about their trade returns to what they’re giving up
Bucket Number Six
They certain have a different value system, but it’s worked for them.
Moneyballer
Clear win for the Rays! Hoyer is a joke.
Prsabroso
How so baller? Morel and Paredes are the same age. Paredes’ production is significantly better all around. Are you sad about losing Biggie and Ty “who am I” Johnson?
Moneyballer
I’m not at all sad but this only makes sense for the rays who have an upgrade at the position just waiting in the minor leagues. Paredes is not a star and he never will be. Getting a bat like Morel’s back along with pitching prospects is a clear win for the Rays. Cubs never used Morel properly and the Rays will.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Morel would have been behind Hoerner at 2B and Happ in LF. That’s why they tried him at 3rd. In Tampa, Caminero will get promoted to play 3B, and they will probably stick Morel in LF or 2B depending on whether they trade B. Lowe this week.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Let’s wait a full for to go by for their new respective teams before we see who wins this trade. Gotta see how Bigge does as well. And in a few years Ty Johnson
Rsox
The Tampa fire sale continues. I’d gladly take Yandy Diaz for the Sox. Between 1B/DH/3B there’s plenty of AB’s to go around
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
No! He’s coming to Seattle so we can have Yandy & Randy.
Jason Hanselman
Some think Randy was traded because him and Yandy couldn’t stop fighting with each other so it would be hilarious if they ended up back together. I’ve been hoping for this.
Slider_withcheese
The Cubs are the winners of Trade Deadline 2024 thus far, and still have time to pad their lead.
getrealgone2
There’s their 3rd baseman
JimmyTheC
Not sure how MLBTR thinks Morel has a clear shot at 2B. Doesn’t Brandon Lowe play there?
Sideline Redwine
until he is traded for a case of beer, I guess. I love Lowe, when he is healthy is a real baller; but the way the Rays are giving guys away, I don’t expect much.
CleaverGreene
BLowe is a 3 outcome player. A third of the time he is hot and unstoppable; another third he is a cold as ice; the last third he injured and on the IL. True story.
Karensjer
Not for long. I heard Rays were going to trade him away for a mascot.
ccahoe02
As a rays fan I liked the Adam trade. I feel like they could have got more for Arozarena and Parades
laswagn
Time to push back the trade deadline a couple weeks.
drasco036
Thank you! That is exactly what the cubs need both this year and next
Karensjer
And the Rays just keep getting worse, trading the one of the few guys in the team hitting over .250 for a guy hitting almost .200. Just about every other team would just freaking pay Paredes what he is owed. Don’t be fooled by the ‘Rays way’. $ternberg is a cheapskate who got lucky for 5-6 years and had playoff caliber teams thanks to the front office. The front office missed a few calls this year and didn’t trade guys at their peak value when they were hitting (Arozarena), not injured or coming back from an injury (Glasnow), or pitching well (Civale), and now they have a whole roster of guys hitting .225, are unproven rookies, and a staff of guys waiting to snap their wrists and get Tommy John because of overvaluing spin rate. It’s gonna be a tough time until $tu decides to spend or sell the team, Rays fan. I’m not looking forward to it.
NavalHistorian
You can’t blame the pitchers or the Rays for overvaluing spin rate. Everybody in MLB values spin rate now. I doubt that’s going to change any time soon because the importance of spin rate is now part of college baseball and the HS baseball showcase/travel team circuit. Heck, I wouldn’t be shocked if multiple private high schools have the money for “pitching labs” now too. Since teams aren’t going to reduce the emphasis on spin rate, hopefully MLB comes up with a legal “sticky stuff” that allows pitchers to spin it without taxing their arms as much as they do now.
As for the Rays payroll, IMO there are two factors that are going to make this interesting to watch in the future. First is that new stadium whenever it gets built. Secondly, with the accelerating demise of RSNs, it’s going to be interesting to see whether most MLB teams reduce/hold the line on payroll. If they do, that might help smaller market teams. The Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Dodgers can’t sign “everybody” regardless of how much Boras and other agents would like them to do so..
Heck, as a Nats/O’s fan, I hate MASN because there’s no DTC option. But that $60 mil a year both teams get doesn’t look so bad now.
Karensjer
I might give it a year or so after the stadium is built, but I just don’t trust $tu changing his ways and spending money for a top tier free agent or resigning a decent young player. They can make offers to Freeman and Judge all they want, but until they are willing to beat other teams, it means nothing. I wouldn’t doubt that he just made an offer he knew both players would balk at just to pacify fans.
I may be wrong, but I’ve seen $tu screw a decent Rays team out of contending in the off-season by not supplementing existing players with top-tier free agents, in July by not acquiring top-tier players to get them that trophy, and by not extending young guys and trading them in July just like this year.
As for spin rate, I don’t know the answer, but I like the legal sticky stuff. I just don’t want to keep seeing these low batting average totals. Chicks dig the longball and you might not need a pitch clock if more teams scored 8-10 runs a night. Nothing is more boring than a 1-0 game, and it’s even more frustrating if you lose it.
Jason Hanselman
Outside of Ohtani, which free agent signing is carrying his team to victory? They have extended every player willing to agree with a fair offer. Free agency is for selling tickets in the offseason. By the time players get there they are so beaten down from the process that their name recognition exceeds performance capability. The team doesn’t really need fans who cannot grasp fundamental stuff like this.
mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/2023-24-top-50-free-age…
Karensjer
Gerrit Cole might have done it in 2020. They just needed 2 more wins in the World Series.
Jason Hanselman
You very well may be right. A shame the Rays surprised everyone by not outlaying the largest contract a pitcher had ever signed at that point. A contract so large that it took 5 years for another to get more and that was by a million. It might be easier to find another way.
good vibes only
This is the best they could get for Parades?
greg7274
cubs are ridiculous.
Seachi
The rays seem to win a alot of trades but this feels like a steal for the cubs.
Tim Apple
Surprising Morel had any value left.
The 2 month slump act where he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn every season grew very tiring.
Icing on the cake is that Paredes is the same age somehow. Cubs fleeced them.
boysofsummer
Damn I wanted the Dodgers to get him.
FartCop
baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/isaac-paredes…
Concerning. Maybe Rays are selling at peak.
YourDreamGM
Cubs signed Bellinger so they obviously don’t look at that stuff.
FartCop
Bellinger 2023 was much more encouraging that Paredes 2024.
I understand paredes is kind of a statcast outlier because his direction of contact isn’t valued. But, with his bat speed, exit velo, and barrel %; coupled with the fact he would have been around a 25 hr hitter if he was on the Cubs in 2023 lead me to believe he could become 2022 Paredes for the Cubs. Which is still a good 3b
Old York
I agree. Based on his minor league data, he is probably peaking and should see a decline more inline with his historical data. A drop of 18% from his minors numbers should have him with a slash line of:
0.222 / 0.296 / 0.350
It’s coming soon… I’m glad the Rays sold high on him.
Now, I’m not saying Morel is any better but I’m guessing the Rays are going to try and package him up for another trade.
FartCop
@Old York. I could see it going either way with Morel. Give him 2b as defensive home for some time, and I think he might become a decent regular. I think he’s still finding a balance between utilizing his power and becoming a more selective hitter. Overly aggressive previously, leading to an over correction and being more passive.
Maybe the Rays see a way to help strike that balance?
YourDreamGM
C for Tampa. Arb only going to get more expensive. A different replacement but fine replacement. Could get similar production moving forward with another year of control I believe. 2 nice arms with full control. Cubs seen them as relievers but with Rays you never know. As for Rays way it is a Grade A. As for pure return it’s fair.
C for Cubs. The data is a scary but the guy keeps hitting. As long as he maintains his swing he will be fine. They didn’t give up anything they can’t easily replace. If you are worried about arb $ it’s a good trade.
Another win win. This is about as fair as it gets.
Moneyballer
Way to go out on a limb there. Everyone’s average and my pov is terrible!
YourDreamGM
Call em as I see them. Gave plenty of A’s and D’s already. Value looks fair and makes cents for both teams. For someone who doesn’t seem to be a fan of my analysis you sure do read it a lot. Just simply hit the mute or stop reading my comments.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Paredes also backs up 1B and can give Busch a day off against tough LHP, making Patrick Wisdom superfluous on the bench. Hopefully they find a taker for Wisdom on Tuesday and bring up Ballesteros for that roster spot.
mbart33
Moves so far – have helped this years team-but beware never trade with tampa-2 years from now tampa will have 3 major leaguers cubs 1
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Off-topic: Is it true all the best looking Floridian women can be found in the Tampa Bay area? Thinking of migrating.
kcmark
Miami but you’ll need a yacht.
CleaverGreene
Because ya’ll need more than one woman or you can’t seem to keep one very long?
TB Sox NY
They are better today than they were yesterday.
Motor City Beach Bum
Hope for Cubbies fans that your Paredes trade with the Ray’s works out better than my Tigers Paredes trade with the Rays did!
Acoss1331
It’s tough, Rays usually fleece the other team in trades, Morel is probably going to turn into a formidable power hitter. Morel is probably going to be their part-time DH, and find a spot in the infield.
msqboxer
Cub fans are like the blue guy from the Last Supper Olympics show…convinced your doing the right thing only to have it blow up in your face.
Rays in the Bay
I like it. The more moves to get Neander and Cash out of TB, the better
Acoss1331
They both just got an extension, so they’re there for a while.
CleaverGreene
Why the heck would you say that, mate??
Rays in the Bay
I have zero understanding of why people think Cash is great. He has questionable often failing decisions almost daily. And I think he doesn’t know how to control his club. Rarely gets fired up and doesn’t know how to fire up his team either. Neander has made good moves in his tenure but I’m also getting tired of his strategy of picking up INFs and converting them to positions they aren’t naturally good at. And their reliance on defense-first guys in the draft has depleted the offensive abilities of the club. And if they somehow do perform well in AAA, most do not acclimate well in the bigs. I find that to be a coaching and management problem.
Domingo111
Interesting trade. I don’t think morel is a long term major league player and he will probably be in Japan in 3 years and hit 50 homers there because he can’t play a position and strikes out a ton but has great power against slow pitching but bigge could be a 7th inning guy and Johnson is old for the level but has produced good k to bb ratios and could be a starter.
The return looks very bad because neither guy is a top15 guy in the rays system but the rays generally know what to look for with arms.
Ceiling is the rays get a #4 starter, a decent reliever and some value as a platoon masher bat from morel. That could be better overall value than some higher rated younger prospect packages
Tomath7456
Two years ago, many fans were saying that it was a loss for the Rays.
mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/tigers-acquire-austin-m…
YourDreamGM
Not this random person who’s comment I randomly selected for a random example.
“Good trade for both teams. Especially the Rays because draft picks are valuable for a smart team. Rays value outfield defense and view Meadows as a dh and they don’t need him. For Detroit they get 30 hr potential for a draft pick. They couldn’t develop the player so he only has value to a team that thinks they can improve him.”
User 401527550
Am I missing something here? These two players are pretty much the same offensive players. The only difference is Paredes was hot to start the season and Morel was cold otherwise their careers match up offensively. Why are cubs fans acting like their offense will change much? Their numbers last year where almost the same.
TheGr8One
Nice future land Rays
Edd 2
A lot of mediocrity being acquired at the deadline
NavalHistorian
I’m not a Rays fan, but I am a baseball fan. It’s kind of depressing seeing them trade controllable talent almost every year. I’m not sure if that new stadium will help them whenever it opens or if this is just “who they are” and the way they’re going to have to always operate. I’ve heard that the Trop gets smaller crowds because it’s annoying to get to.
As for Morel, since his defense isn’t very good, stick him at DH. If he fails there, he probably ends up in Japan or Korea. I know teams in both leagues are moving away from the Harold Baines/Edgar Martinez type guy who slots into the lineup at DH almost every day, but this seems like the best option for Morel. Maybe he’s got “enough” of a glove/range to play 1B?
Wheeler Dealer
Sitting on my couch I could tell Morel wouldn’t make it as a 3rd baseman
cbhlarms28
Dead pull hitter, very average peripheral numbers, not a very good defender, 3 years of frustrations coming for the cute, gullible mass known as Cubbie nation. Enjoy.
Perksy
Agreed. I have Paredes in fantasy and I am disappointed with the this deal. Dead pull hitter does not play well in Wrigley as it does at the Trop.
letitbelowenstein
This deal seems pretty even steven unless Morel suddenly gets his groove back.
Senor Smoke
When the Tigers traded Paredes for Austin Meadows everybody I know said the Tigers cleaned the Rays clock. The second-guessers and Hinch groupies claim the Rays knew something was wrong with Meadows. But the truth is Meadows was about to become unaffordable for the Rays and Paredes was a possibile middle-middle-of-the order bat. What happened to Meadows was Tigers hitting coach Coolbaugh and Hinch who literally drove him nuts. Those who remember his early games saw him going to LF when everybody knew he was a pull-hitter. Hinch has done the same thing to Torkelson but Tork has resisted, gotten the “resistant to coaching” label, and of course been marooned at Toledo. Oh, and BTW, since his demotion, Tork has had to learn a whole new league of pitchers and how and when they throw certain pitches. Don’t kid yourself, AAA pitching is only a notch below The Show.
User 624265706
Gotta admit, I didn’t see this coming, but I like it. Solid trade all around. I wonder what else Hoyer is up to………
Tomato Pie
You forgot to specify that the Tigers traded Paredes for Austin Meadows, and were hosed as a result because the Rays didn’t mention the non-physical issues about Meadows, who is now pretty much out of the league.