Cubs land All-Star hitter Isaac Paredes in MLB trade deadline deal with Rays

The Chicago Cubs vowed this week that they would make only trades for the future, and not any short-term rentals, delivered on their promise Sunday by acquiring All-Star infielder Isaac Paredes from the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of the MLB trade deadline .

The Cubs, who are also listening to offers for veteran starter Jameson Taillon and other relievers ahead Tuesday’s trade deadline, sent third baseman Christopher Morel, reliever Hunter Bigge and pitching prospect Ty Johnson to the Rays in the deal.

"Our goal is to add players that will help us not just this season, but into the future," Cubs president Jed Hoyer said Sunday. "Acquiring Paredes adds a proven bat to our lineup immediately and for years to come."

The Cubs believed that Morel would be their power-hitting third baseman for the future, but he struggled (.199, 18 homers, .675 OPS), particularly defensively, and gave up on him. They now have an infielder in Paredes, who is hitting .245 with 16 homers and a .792 OPS, and won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2027 season. He is earning $3.4 million this year.

Interestingly, the Rays tried to get Morel during talks about starter Tyler Glasnow during the winter before sending him to the Dodgers. And the Cubs originally signed Paredes as an amateur.

Paredes becomes the sixth player traded by the Rays this month, including four in the last few days, joining Randy Arozarena, Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, Phil Maton and Jason Adam.

While the Rays (54-52) are clearly in sell-mode, even though they are just 3 ½ games out of a wild-card berth, the Cubs (50-56) still haven’t officially decided whether they are in or out. The Cubs still are expected to be sellers, and move several pitchers – particularly with this being clearly a seller’s market – but they also are six games back of a wild-card berth.

The trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET Tuesday.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cubs land All-Star hitter Isaac Paredes in MLB trade deadline deal with Rays