CINCINNATI — Jed Hoyer believes in Christopher Morel.

The decision to trade him to Tampa Bay over the weekend isn’t an indictment on the front office’s sudden distrust in the young slugger.

“I really do believe in Chris’s expected numbers at the plate,” Hoyer said. “I think he made real progress which we were proud.

“I think he’s gonna go on and have a ton of success. I wish him the best. I think he’s a really, really good hitter.”

Morel has already enjoyed early success with the Rays, homering in his debut Tuesday night and then again in his 1st at-bat in Wednesday’s game.

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But the ability to acquire Isaac Parades, an All-Star third baseman with a proven track record made Hoyer and the front office believe it was the right move to part with the 25-year-old Morel.

It doesn’t mean it wasn’t a difficult decision.

This was, after all, a player who signed with the organization as a teenager in the Dominican Republic, overcame a gruesome, potentially career-ending injury, ascended the minor league ladder and created lifelong memories as an energetic member of the Cubs.

“He’s as wonderful a human as I’ve been around,” Hoyer said. “Just a great kid. Everyone loves him. He treats everyone so well. … I also say that someone like Chris, you sign as a 16-year-old and you watch him develop is really special. It’s hard to make that kind of deal.”

It was a trying, first full season in the majors for Morel.

After starting the last two years in the minors, 2024 was the first season Morel opened the season in the big leagues and did so as an everyday third baseman on a team expected to contend. But the struggles that have plagued him in his early career — coupled with some bad luck — made it an extremely difficult season for him.

In 103 games, Morel was hitting .199/.302/.373 with 18 home runs and 51 RBI. The home run numbers were there, but his batting average, slugging percentage and OPS had all dropped massively. In 2022, he hit .235/.308/.433 with 16 home runs in 113 games and last season he hit .247/.313/.508. He was the lowest-ranked defender among qualified players by Outs Above Average (-12), too.

He made strides in other areas at the plate — his walk-rate increased from 8.4% in 2023 to 11% this season and he cut his strikeout rate from 31% to 24.2%.

“Normally that — as long as you’re keeping your exit velocities steady — results in really good success,” Hoyer said. “And I just think this year, I do think he’s hit into some really bad luck and he scuffled. I think his numbers are going to be a lot closer to his expected numbers. So, this wasn’t about his offensive performance at all.”

Morel could go on to become the “really, really good hitter” that Hoyer said. But the variance in what he may or may not develop into couldn’t usurp the certainty of a player like Paredes. He saw his offensive numbers jump in 2023 to where he was receiving down-ballot MVP votes. This season, he’s in line to put up similar numbers to last year’s — .250/.352/.488, 31 home runs, 98 RBI with the Rays.

Paredes also presents a different offensive profile for the Cubs. He strikes out only 15.7% of the time and rarely swings and misses.

That — plus Paredes’ 3-plus years of team control — made Hoyer more than OK with pulling the trigger on the deal. It was a good player at a position of need who can help them beyond 2024, exactly what he had set out to do this trade deadline.

“It was about kind of the profile of hitter that Parades is and the fact that he played third for Tampa and that was something that was important to us,” Hoyer said. “Ultimately, positionally, we felt like it was the right decision for 2025 and beyond.”

Complete Cubs trade deadline content:

–Why the Cubs decided to move on from Christopher Morel
–Behind the Cubs’ trade deadline strategy – and why Jameson Taillon wasn’t moved
–Cubs players react to trade deadline moves
–Why the Cubs decided to trade Mark Leiter Jr. at the deadline
–A comprehensive look at the Cubs’ 2024 MLB trade deadline moves
–Mark Leiter Jr. shares heartfelt appreciation for Chicago in farewell post
–Cubs trade away Mark Leiter Jr. in deal with Yankees
–In a stunning move, Cubs deal away Christopher Morel in big trade with Rays
–Cubs Weekly Podcast: Breaking down the Cubs’ fascinating – and surprising – deadline moves
–Who is Isaac Paredes? The book on the new Cubs third baseman
–WATCH: Christopher Morel shares emotional farewell with teammates and coaches in Cubs dugout
–Cubs acquire hard-throwing pitcher Nate Pearson