The impact of the MLB Trade Deadline on the Chicago Cubs prospects

With the deadline behind us, we can now look at the Chicago Cubs as a whole moving forward. In a surprising move, The team made a much needed improvement at third base. This was one of those “Baseball is a business” moves, as fan-favorite Christopher Morel was sent to Tampa Bay in exchange for All-Star Isaac Parades. Personally, I’m saddened to see the team move on from Morel, but once i put my thinking cap on, it became evident that Parades clearly helps the Cubs now and in the immediate future. 

Without a clear answer at the hot corner after Morel showed his defensive inabilities this season, the only plausible answer was to hopefully have reason to fast-track top prospect Matt Shaw into playing a position that hasn’t been his natural go to. Now, with Parades in the mix, multiple paths toward success have became possible. 

Let’s remember that Nico Hoerner’s future with the Cubs had been uncertain these last few weeks, given that he was at the center of trade rumors ahead of the deadline. A Cubs team without Hoerner still gave the team options if they wanted to fast-track Shaw, but personally, I found it highly unlikely that Hoerner was going to be traded. Adding Parades only strengthened my belief that Hoerner would be around, given how much more sense it makes to keep him now.

You could say that keeping Hoerner blocks both Shaw and James Triantos, now that Parades is a Cub. However, both prospects are still in Double-A, and although both appear ready for Triple-A, you can’t keep holes on your main roster because you’re banking on prospect production in the future. That is a recipe for disaster and one that Hoyer is quickly allowing not to happen.

Adding Parades was also a jump start on avoiding bidding wars in free agency this winter. They have now added a bat with serious thump to the lineup, and are truly a pitcher or two away from competing. Is there enough now to go on a run with a favorable remainder of the 2024 schedule? That remains to be seen. At the very least, the team has an infield of Parades/Swanson/Hoerner/Busch for at least the next two seasons. The bones are already intact to build on what has been a disappointing 2024 season.