Jed Hoyer and the Cubs are heading into a pivotal offseason. After 4 straight years without a trip to the playoffs, Hoyer and Co. are looking to build a roster that can get the franchise back into October. As they work to enhance this group, we are analyzing the Top 10 building blocks already on the Cubs roster. Next up: Isaac Paredes.

Isaac Paredes’ inclusion on this list caused much — healthy — internal debate.

Is he one of the top 10 Cubs building blocks? Why would he merit consideration over other players on the roster? Where does he fit if so?

All are valid arguments, but the crux of his inclusion comes down to his past production, specifically his 2023 campaign. It’s the type of offensive production that this roster just simply doesn’t have if Cody Bellinger doesn’t return.

In 2023, Paredes slashed .250/.352/.488 (.840 OPS), 136 wRC+ with 31 home runs, 98 RBI, 71 runs scored and a 4.3 fWAR. No one on the Cubs current roster — again, not including Bellinger — has posted over 30 homers or 98 or more RBI in a season. Paredes has the potential, and most importantly the track record, to be a game-changing bat in the middle of the Cubs order.

And he does that while being young (25) and under club control for 3 more seasons. Paredes was on a modest $3.4 million salary for 2024 and MLB Trade Rumors projects him to earn $6.9 million in 2025 through the arbitration process. If he produces at the 4-fWAR level he did in 2023, the next three arbitration years should give the Cubs solid production at a reasonable price.

The knocks on him are justifiable — he slashed just .223/.325/.307 (.633 OPS) with 3 homers, 25 RBI and 23 runs scored in 52 games since being acquired in a midseason trade with the Tampa Bay that saw Christopher Morel and pitchers Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson go to the Rays.

But, sometimes, things need to be considered beyond face value.

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First, there’s the human element of a trade; it was in Tampa that Paredes had blossomed into an All-Star and had built up a comfort level that’s not easy to replicate in a new environment in a pair of months. Secondly, the stats don’t tell the full picture.

Paredes had extreme home-road splits with the Cubs. The offensive woes at Wrigley Field were well documented — and the Mexican third baseman suffered for it. In 27 games at the Friendly Confines, Paredes slashed .105/.177/.140 (.317 OPS) with 1 home run and 12 RBI. But on the road, he hit .333/.448/.462 (.911 OPS) with 2 homers and 13 RBI.

“I feel exactly the same as I felt on the day we traded for him, which is, he’s a really good player,” Jed Hoyer said at his end-of-season press conference. “He’s a really gifted hitter.

“There’s no reason to think that he’s not going to continue to be the really good offensive player that he’s been in Tampa.”

[WATCH: Is the Cubs offense in a good spot entering the offseason?]

Paredes’ offensive potential is tantalizing. At that same press conference, Hoyer spoke about players outperforming expectations to help break through their playoff drought. Paredes could be the No. 1 candidate to do so.

If that becomes the case, then in 12 months there might not be an argument as to whether Paredes should be on the list, but how high he should be.

Top 10 Cubs building blocks

1. Pete Crow-Armstrong
2. Justin Steele
3. Shota Imanaga
4. Dansby Swanson
5. Seiya Suzuki
6. Ian Happ
7. Michael Busch
8. Isaac Paredes
9. Oct. 31
10. Nov. 1
Honorable mentions: Nov. 4