The Chicago Cubs added an All-Star hitter to their lineup as they attempt to stay in the National League wild-card playoff race.
Isaac Paredes is on his way to the Cubs from the Tampa Bay Rays, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The third baseman is batting .247 with a .793 OPS, 16 home runs, 19 doubles and 55 RBI in 425 plate appearances this season.
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Paredes, 25, returns to the Cubs, who signed him as an amateur free agent out of Mexico in 2015. He played two seasons in Chicago’s system before being traded to the Detroit Tigers. He will begin his arbitration eligibility next season, so the Cubs have control of him for three more seasons after this one. Paredes is likely not a short-term rental and should be Chicago’s third baseman for the near future.
There are questions as to how Paredes’ power will play at Wrigley Field, but he brings some balance to the Cubs’ lineup with a more reliable right-handed bat in the middle of the order. He also provides more defensive versatility, having played several positions around the infield during his career.
In exchange, the Rays will receive third baseman Christopher Morel with minor league pitchers Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Tyler Kepner. Morel, 25, is batting .199 with a .676 OPS, 18 homers, 51 RBI and seven stolen bases. With one more season before he’s eligible for arbitration, the Rays will have four seasons of control over Morel which is a major consideration for them.
Bigge, 26, was called up to the majors earlier this month after compiling a 0.68 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings. He made four appearances for the Cubs, striking out five in 3 1/3 innings. Johnson, 22, is in his first season of professional baseball, advancing from low Single-A to high-A. He has an overall 3.54 ERA in 18 appearances (10 starts) with 81 strikeouts in 61 innings.
The Cubs entered Sunday six games out of the NL’s last wild-card playoff spot, but have five teams ahead of them in the standings, including three of their NL Central rivals. Though adding Paredes could help their chances, this also appears to be a move for the future.
