KANSAS CITY -- Isaac Paredes is returning to where it all started.

Days after president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer signaled the team was looking towards 2025 and beyond, Chicago made its second move in as many days by acquiring Rays third baseman Paredes, the club announced on Sunday during its 7-3 series-clinching win against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. In return, the Cubs are sending Christopher Morel and prospects Ty Johnson and Hunter Bigge (Chicago’s No. 29-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline) to the Rays.

On Saturday, the Cubs acquired pitcher Nate Pearson from Toronto.

“As we have stated, our goal is to add players that will help us not just this season, but into the future,” Hoyer said in a statement announcing the trade. “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.”

Paredes originally signed with the Cubs for $500,000 out of Mexico in 2015, and now returns to the club that gave him a chance to break into the Majors.

TRADE DETAILS
Cubs receive: 3B Isaac Paredes
Rays receive: INF Christopher Morel, RHP Hunter Bigge (Cubs No. 29 prospect), RHP Ty Johnson

Paredes, who earned his first All-Star nod this season, was one of the biggest bats on the market, and lengthens a Cubs lineup that has struggled mightily since the start of May. The 25-year-old third baseman is slashing .245/.357/.435 with 16 homers and 55 RBIs in 101 games this season. Paredes hit a career-high 31 home runs and drove in 98 runs a year ago. He is under team control through 2027, fitting into Hoyer’s strategy of not only trying to make Chicago better in ‘24, but in ‘25 and beyond as well. He mainly plays third base but can fill in at second and first as needed.

Paredes has tapped into his pull-side power, which gives Chicago power it was lacking at the third-base position. The Cubs could also look to improve offensively at catcher via the trade market after struggling to find consistency since Yan Gomes earlier this season and turning to Miguel Amaya and Christian Bethancourt behind the plate.

Morel, who was hitting fifth as the designated hitter Sunday against the Royals, has shown flashes at the plate, but entered the finale against Kansas City batting just .199 with a .675 OPS in 103 games. Morel hugged Cubs teammates and coaches during the third and fourth innings in the dugout at Kauffman Stadium before making his departure.

Morel posted on his Instagram story a photo of him in a Cubs uniform with the caption: “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.”

The 25-year-old had been spending all his time at third or DH this season after starting his career moving around the infield and outfield. Morel has been one of the Cubs’ most energetic players since his arrival, with his walk-off home run against the White Sox last season showing the type of player Morel can be at his best.

Bigge, who was selected in the 12th round in the 2019 MLB Draft, made his big league debut this season, compiling a 2.70 ERA over 3 1/3 innings across four outings in July. In 42 games between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa last season, Bigge had a 4.50 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 54 innings.

Johnson, a 22-year-old who was at High-A South Bend, was in his first season with the organization after getting selected in the 15th round just a year ago. The right-hander has a 3.54 ERA in 18 games between Single-A and High-A this season, striking out 81 batters in 61 total innings.

The move comes one day after the Cubs added Pearson, who is under team control through ‘26. The Cubs are still in position to make moves ahead of Tuesday’s Trade Deadline.