ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – About two hours after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Cincinnati, the Rays announced Isaac Paredes was traded to the Cubs in return for third baseman Christopher Morel and right-handed pitchers Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson.
The deal continued what has been a busy weekend for the Rays. On Friday, they dealt Randy Arozarena to Seattle and Zach Eflin to Baltimore. Jason Adam was shipped to San Diego before Sunday’s game. The three trades brought eight prospects in return.
Read: Tampa Bay Rays Spent Friday Dealing Randy Arozarena, Zach Eflin
Unlike the other trades this weekend, the deal with the Cubs includes players with big-league experience in return. The 25-year-old Morel debuted with Chicago in 2022 and has played 322 games with 60 homers and a .228 average. This season, the right-handed hitter is batting .195 with 18 homers and 51 RBI.
Bigge made his MLB debut earlier this month and appeared in four games with the Cubs. Chicago selected the 26-year-old Harvard product in the 12th round of the 2019 draft. The 22-year-old Johnson was drafted in 2023 and is in Class A.
Read: John Cena: A Legacy Of Hustle, Loyalty, And Respect
Paredes, the Rays’ lone all-star representative this year, is hitting .245 with 16 homers and 55 RBI. He heads to the Windy City in a 6-for-62 funk. The 25-year-old, who hit 31 home runs and drove in 98 last season, was acquired from Detroit for Austin Meadows four days before Opening Day 2022.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.