The Cubs, who are a mere percentage point out of last place in the NL Central as of this moment, should, by all rights, be selling off as we approach the trade deadline, are instead stocking up on major league assets.  They struck this afternoon, acquiring Isaac Paredes from the Rays in exchange for Christopher Morel, Hunter Bigge, and Ty Johnson.

Morel has supplied many big moments over the past two seasons but has struggled to turn those moments into sustained success.  Paredes, who originally signed with the Cubs as an amateur in 2015, made his first All Star team this year and is still under team control for three more years, which means this is likely a move for 2025 and beyond rather than an expectation that the Cubs will jump back into contention this year.