Cubs trade Christopher Morel, others in swap for All-Star third baseman |
The Chicago Cubs have won the trade sweepstakes for Tampa Bay Rays All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes according to reports on Sunday.
The Northsiders had to give up a steep price with infielder Christopher Morel, reliever Hunter Bigge and pitching prospect Ty Johnson going to the Rays in the trade. Morel was seen giving hugs and goodbyes in the dugout during the third inning of Sunday's game with the Kansas City Royals. He posted on Instagram after hearing he was traded. "Right now I can't think or speak, tears are coming out, but my soul and my heart will always be in Chicago, Philippians 4:13." He was hitting .199 with 18 homers, 51 RBIs and a .676 OPS entering play today. Paredes has hit .245 with 16 home runs, 52 walks and 55 RBIs this season. In 2023, he finished 18th in the American League MVP voting hitting 31 homers and 98 RBIs in 143 games. He was worth 4.2 WAR last year. The good news for the Cubs is that Paredes has three years of control after this season and currently only making $3.4 million this season. Cubs President of Operations Jed Hoyer talked about the trade. “As we have stated, our goal is to add players that will help us not just this season, but into the future. In the last two days, we feel we have worked toward that by trading for those types of controllable players. Acquiring Paredes adds a proven bat to our lineup immediately and for years to come.” This is a reunion as the Cubs traded him away in 2017 to the Tigers alongside Jeimer Candelario for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson. In 2016, Paredes hit .305 with a homer and 26 RBIs in the Arizona Fall League. He was signed by the Cubs as an international free agent in 2016. Bigge made his MLB debut this season and was a 12th round pick in the 2019 Draft. Johnson was the Cubs' 15th round pick in the 2023 Draft. Bigge's MLB Pipeline bio: Bigge displayed a mid-90s fastball as a two-way player at Harvard, and that velocity led the Cubs to draft him in the 12th round in 2019. Because of the pandemic shutdown in 2020 and a torn labrum in his hip the following year, he didn't experience a full and healthy pro season until 2022. Though an oblique injury cost him the first two months of this season, he dominated Triple-A after his return and made his big league debut in July. Bigge has added 3-4 mph to his fastball in the last year and now operates at 97-98 mph and hits 100 mph, and his heater's combination of low release height and carry make it even tougher to hit. His upper-80s cutter reaches 91 mph and generated a 70 percent swing-and-miss rate in Triple-A this year. He also has a pair of breaking pitches, using a mid-80s slider with sweep against righties and a low-80s curveball with more depth against lefties. While Bigge has four intriguing offerings, he lacks a history of throwing consistent strikes. He's better at getting chases with his offerings than landing them in the strike zone. He's a potential closer if he can improve his control, and his stuff still could put him in a high-leverage role even if he can't.
As disappointing as Morel has been this season. Thank you so much for everything Christopher Morel! You brought joy to a fanbase which needed it desperately. Your soul and love will be missed! Best of luck in Tampa!@Cubs #GoCubsGo @christopmorel5 pic.twitter.com/QgzUDEww6y The Chicago Cubs have reportedly traded for 3B Isaac Paredes. pic.twitter.com/vbG4bhu39q Christopher Morel has been taken out of the game after reports he's been traded to Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/JYK3spPJ32 Welcome back Isaac Paredes! pic.twitter.com/QnT41lHNp2 Good luck to Mr. Bigge in Tampa! pic.twitter.com/ITReHk6DQX TRADE: The Cubs are acquiring Isaac Paredes from the Rays for Christopher Morel and two prospects, per @JeffPassan, @Feinsand pic.twitter.com/86xjd6qr9F Christopher Morel is gone, Isaac Paredes is heading to Chicago, the Cubs are buyers, and we’re still in the middle of a game? Isaac Paredes' ranking among third basemen since the start of 2023: Today the #Cubs reportedly acquired 3B Isaac Paredes ($53.8M) from the #Rays in exchange for UT Christopher Morel ($22.7M) and RHPs Hunter Bigge ($0.2M) and Ty Johnson (not yet in system). I sure will miss you Christopher Morel! I wish you all the best and will be rooting for you. Isaac Paredes is a much better overall hitter than Christopher Morel, a much better 3B, and can play other IF spots. This will upgrade & diversify the lineup, with salary control until 2027. Isaac Paredes originally signed with the Cubs in 2015. pic.twitter.com/ozes895PQn Isaac Paredes expected home runs by ballpark per Statcast has him with just 11 at Wrigley Field, which is lower than almost any other ballpark. Christopher Morel posted this on his Instagram story 💙 pic.twitter.com/rRs3VoDopw Memo, thank you for sharing your larger-than-life personality and heartwarming smile with us everyday. We wish you nothing but the best in Tampa Bay. Social media reactions
Man did he have some great moments in a short Cubs career.
Wish you the best Christopher💔
pic.twitter.com/ENLtfyTjLR
CHAOS in the Friendly Confines today pic.twitter.com/1q00p9Xido
WAR: 3rd (7.2)
wOBA: 3rd (.356)
wRC+: 3rd (134)
RBI: 153 (4th)
HRs: 47 (5th)
One of the top players at his position in the game, and just 25 years old and under contract through 2027.
The deal is rejected by our model as an underpay by Chicago.
Thanks for the daily fist bump u gave me when you arrived at Wrigley daily.
Thank you for your smile and kindness to fans!! 💙💙💙 pic.twitter.com/PGElhjynPv
Nice aggressive move.
Too bad Morel never showed more than one dimension at the plate.
Baltimore: 6
Miami: 9
Detroit: 10
St. Louis: 10
Wrigley Field: 11
Amor y Paz ❤️🫶☮️ pic.twitter.com/stl1BYOJUK
