The Major League Baseball landscape was recently stirred by another significant move involving All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes. In a blockbuster trade just ahead of the July 30 deadline, the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays reached an agreement, bringing Paredes back to his original team. Paredes, now 25 years old, initially signed with the Cubs as an amateur before being traded to the Detroit Tigers and subsequently to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Paredes' Impressive Stats
Paredes has built an impressive track record over his career, marked by a .237/.340/.458 slash line and 67 home runs across 354 games. This translates to a 126 OPS+, positioning him just behind the likes of Rafael Devers, José Ramírez, Austin Riley, and Manny Machado among regular third basemen during that span. Despite his success, one area of concern is his average exit velocity, which ranks in the 4th percentile, according to Statcast metrics. However, Robert Orr’s database reveals that Paredes pulls a greater share of fly balls than any other player in the majors.
Return to the Cubs
Now, Paredes is set to return to the Cubs, a team that sees significant potential in him. This move is strategic for Chicago, who aims to boost their batting capacity and overall team dynamics. The Cubs will benefit from having team control over Paredes' contract through the 2027 season. Interestingly, Statcast estimates that if Paredes had played at Wrigley Field, he would have hit five fewer home runs this season and 12 fewer over his entire career. Despite this, the Cubs are confident in his abilities and future contributions.
Impact on the Rays
The trade marks a series of bold moves by the Rays as they look to reshape their roster. Since the start of July, Tampa Bay has traded Randy Arozarena, Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, Phil Maton, Jason Adam, and now Isaac Paredes. This flurry of trades comes despite the Rays winning 99 games last season and being only half a game worse in playoff positioning compared to the 1997 Chicago White Sox’s infamous "White Flag Trade." Clearly, the powers that be in St. Petersburg view Ron Schueler as a fearless trailblazer that never got his due.
Morel and Other Key Pieces
As part of the trade, promising 25-year-old batter Christopher Morel is heading to the Rays. Morel's 90th percentile exit velocity puts him in the same league as Teoscar Hernández and Joc Pederson, making him a valuable addition. Analysts believe, "Morel strikes us as someone who is a decent bet to be an above-average hitter for at least the next few years." The Rays may consider placing Morel at second base, left field, or even as a designated hitter. One expert noted, "The Rays may want to plop him down at second base (or left field, or DH) and say, 'that's that, go hit and we won't mind the defensive damage.'"
Additionally, the Cubs sent 26-year-old Bigge, who has made four big-league appearances this season, and 22-year-old Johnson, recently picked from Ball State in last summer’s 15th round, to Tampa Bay. These players add depth and potential to the Rays' evolving roster.
As the trade deadline approached, the Cubs and Rays demonstrated their readiness to make bold moves to improve their respective teams. Isaac Paredes' return to Chicago represents hope and potential for the Cubs, while the Rays continue to calibrate their approach in an effort to remain competitive.