Rays acquire three players from Cubs in exchange for Isaac Paredes

Rays acquire three players from Cubs in exchange for Isaac Paredes

8:22 PM UTC

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired infielder Christopher Morel, right-handed pitcher Hunter Bigge and right-handed pitcher Ty Johnson from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Isaac Paredes.

Morel, 25, hit .199 (72-for-362) with seven doubles, one triple, a team-leading 18 home runs, 51 RBI and seven steals in 103 games for the Cubs this season. His 26 home runs for Chicago last season were tied with Cody Bellinger for the team lead, while ranking fifth on the club with 70 RBI, 46 extra-base hits and an .821 OPS.

In 2022, he recorded a career opening, franchise-record 22-game on-base streak from May 17-June 11, while his 39 extra-base hits ranked second among qualified NL rookies behin­­d Atlanta’s Michael Harris II (49). Signed by the Cubs in 2015 out of Santiago, Dominican Republic, Morel has hit .228 (257-for-1129) with 43 doubles, eight triples, 60 home runs and 168 RBI in 322 games across three seasons in Chicago.

Bigge, 26, made his major league debut with the Cubs this season on July 9 at Baltimore and has made three relief appearances since, recording a 2.70 ERA (3.1IP, 1ER) with five strikeouts. Following two rehab appearances to begin the year, he was activated from the 7-day injured list on June 4 and made 12 relief appearances with Triple-A Iowa, going 1-0 with a 0.68 ERA (13.1IP, 1ER) and six saves while striking out 20 batters. Selected by Chicago in the 12th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Havard University, Bigge is rated by MLB.com as Chicago’s No. 29 prospect.

Johnson, 22, went 1-4 with a 3.54 ERA (61.0IP, 24ER) and one save in 18 appearances (10 starts) this season between Class-A Myrtle Beach and Class-A South Bend. Johnson was selected by Chicago in the 15th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Ball State University.

Paredes, 25, hit .245 (89-for-363) with 19 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 55 RBI and 52 walks in 101 games for the Rays this season. In three seasons with Tampa Bay, Paredes hit .236 (280-for-1186) with 59 doubles, one triple, 67 home runs, 198 RBI and 154 walks in 355 games.