Cubs swoop in to land Rays All-Star Isaac Paredes in shocking trade deadline move

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Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Isaac Paredes was traded before MLB's deadline, but it wasn't the team anyone expected. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and other clubs expected to make the postseason were all over Paredes' market, but it was the Chicago Cubs swooping in to land the third baseman. 

The Rays accepted a package that revolves around Christopher Morel, the 25-year-old third baseman who has tons of power but has struggled in his third MLB season in Chicago. 

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Isaac Paredes of the Tampa Bay Rays in action against the Yankees on July 20, 2024, in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay is also receiving right-hander Hunter Bigge, the Cubs’ 29th-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and right-hander Ty Johnson. 

Morel is slashing just .199/.302/.374 this year, though he has 18 homers and 51 RBI over 102 games. Perhaps a different type of scenery with the Rays can unlock the Morel the Cubs saw last year, as he finished with 26 homers and an .821 OPS. 

What makes this trade so surprising is that Paredes was expected to be an upgrade for a team that was going for it in 2024. Reports from the Cubs recently have stated the team is looking to the future, as it’s 50-56 – dead last in the NL Central. 

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However, the National League wild-card race is wide open at the moment, with the Cubs just six games back of the third spot the New York Mets currently own at 55-49.  

Paredes was someone teams were clamoring over, so this move puts Chicago in the buyer’s market in a shocking move