KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Christopher Morel slowly made his way through the visitors dugout during the bottom of the third inning Sunday afternoon.
Every couple steps, Morel gave a handshake or hug to a Chicago Cubs teammate, coach or staffer, saying goodbye to the only organization he has known since signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 as a teenager.
The Cubs traded Morel to the Tampa Bay Rays for third baseman Isaac Paredes, the team announced Sunday. Two prospects, reliever Hunter Bigge and High-A pitcher Ty Johnson, were also sent to the Rays as part of the deal.
Morel, in the lineup Sunday as the designated hitter, was greeted by manager Craig Counsell in the dugout near the entrance to the visitors clubhouse shortly after news of the trade broke. Counsell punctuated their brief conversation with a pat on the shoulders before Morel continued across the dugout in his last moments with the Cubs.
It’s another deal by president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer in the last two days that addresses a need and helps the Cubs in 2025 and beyond. Paredes is the same age as Morel, 25, and will not reach free agency until after the 2027 season.
“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. “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 out of Mexico as an amateur free agent in 2015. The Cubs traded Paredes and Jeimer Candelario to the Detroit Tigers at the July 31, 2017, trade deadline for catcher Alex Avila and reliever Justin Wilson. Following another trade, this time to Tampa Bay, Paredes’ offensive production jumped to a new level. Over the last three years with the Rays, Paredes posted a .236/.340/.458 slash line and 126 OPS+. He earned his first All-Star Game selection this year and comes to the Cubs hitting .247 with a .355 on-base percentage, 19 doubles, 16 home runs, 55 RBIs and 127 OPS+ in 100 games.
Morel’s potential has been undeniable in parts of three big-league seasons, especially with the power he possesses at the plate. But finding a defensive fit has been a struggle. The Cubs moved Morel full-time to third base during spring training, however, he remains inconsistent at the position, which created questions about his long-term fit on the club.
“Right now I can’t think or speak, tears are coming out, but my soul and my heart will always be in Chicago,” Morel wrote over a picture of him tipping his hat to Cubs fans that he shared on an Instagram story Sunday.
