The Tampa Bay Rays have a reputation for being savvy traders and making shrewd moves to improve their roster. One of the most recent moves was the acquisition of infielder Isaac Paredes from the Detroit Tigers on April 4, 2022.
Paredes was seen as a promising young player with a bright future, and the Rays were able to acquire him in exchange for outfielder Austin Meadows and a competitive balance round B pick in the 2022 MLB draft.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how the Rays were able to get Isaac Paredes, and what his potential impact might be on the team.
Who is Isaac Paredes?
Isaac Paredes is a 22-year-old infielder who was born on February 18, 1999, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. He was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent in 2015 when he was just 16 years old, and he began his professional career in the Cubs’ minor league system.
In 2017, Paredes was traded to the Detroit Tigers as part of a package for pitcher Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila. Paredes quickly established himself as a top prospect in the Tigers’ organization, and he made his major league debut in 2019 at the age of 20.
Over the course of the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Paredes played in a total of 52 games for the Tigers, batting .220 with two home runs and 11 RBI.
Paredes spent most of the 2021 season playing in the minor leagues, but he did appear in 32 games for the Tigers, batting .215 with two home runs and 11 RBI.
At the time of the trade, Paredes was considered one of the top prospects in the Tigers’ organization and was viewed as having significant potential as a young infielder with a good bat and a solid glove.
The Trade: How It Happened
On April 4, 2022, the Tampa Bay Rays traded outfielder Austin Meadows and a competitive balance round B pick in the 2022 MLB draft to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Isaac Paredes.
The trade was seen as a win-win for both teams, as the Rays were able to acquire a promising young infielder while the Tigers were able to add an established outfielder to their lineup.
The Rays were likely interested in Paredes because of his potential as a young infielder with a good bat and solid defensive skills. Paredes has shown flashes of his potential at the major league level, but he had yet to establish himself as an everyday player.
The Rays are known for their ability to develop young talent and help players reach their full potential, so they likely saw Paredes as a player who could benefit from their coaching and development programs.
In exchange for Paredes, the Tigers received Austin Meadows, a talented outfielder who had struggled with injuries and inconsistency in recent seasons.
Meadows had shown flashes of his potential in the past, however, and the Tigers were likely hoping that a change of scenery would help him regain his form and become a consistent contributor to their lineup.
The competitive balance round B pick was also a valuable asset, as it gave the Tigers an additional draft pick to help them rebuild their roster for the future.
Paredes’ Potential Impact on the Rays
Isaac Paredes has the potential to be a valuable contributor to the Tampa Bay Rays roster. He is a versatile infielder who can play multiple positions, including second base, shortstop, and third base.
Paredes has a good bat and has shown the ability to hit for both average and power, making him a threat at the plate.
One of Paredes’ biggest strengths is his ability to make consistent contact with the ball. He has a good eye at the plate and is able to draw walks, making him a valuable asset in the Rays’ patient and disciplined approach to hitting.
Paredes also has good defensive skills and has shown the ability to make difficult plays at all three infield positions.
In terms of how Paredes fits into the Rays’ roster, he will likely provide depth and flexibility to their infield. With the ability to play multiple positions, he can fill in as needed in case of injuries or other roster changes.
He may also be able to compete for playing time at second base or third base, where the Rays have some question marks in their current roster.
When compared to other players on the Rays’ roster, Paredes could potentially fill a similar role to Joey Wendle, who is another versatile infielder who can play multiple positions and provides a good bat and solid defense.
However, Paredes is younger and has more potential for growth and development, making him an exciting addition to the Rays’ roster.
Paredes’ Performance Since Joining the Rays
It’s still early to fully evaluate Isaac Paredes’ performance with the Tampa Bay Rays since the trade occurred relatively recently on April 4, 2022. As of the time of writing, Paredes has played in 12 games for the Rays and has recorded 30 plate appearances.
In that time, he has posted a batting average of .212, an on-base percentage of .267, and a slugging percentage of .364. He has also hit one home run and driven in three runs.
While those numbers may not be particularly impressive, it’s important to note that Paredes is still a young player who is adjusting to a new team and a new league.
He has shown flashes of his potential, including hitting a home run in his first game with the Rays, and it’s likely that he will continue to improve as he gains more experience and adjusts to his new surroundings.
When compared to his performance with the Detroit Tigers, Paredes’ numbers with the Rays are actually slightly better. In his 32 games with the Tigers in 2021, he hit .215 with two home runs and 11 RBI, posting an OPS of .647. While those numbers aren’t terrible, they also don’t necessarily stand out as particularly impressive.
However, it’s important to remember that Paredes is still a young player who has yet to fully establish himself at the major league level, and there is reason to believe that he has the potential to become a valuable contributor to the Rays’ roster in the coming years.
Isaac Paredes’ Performance Comparison
| Year | Team | Games Played | Plate Appearances | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Slugging Percentage | Home Runs | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Detroit | 34 | 131 | .220 | .278 | .290 | 1 | 6 |
| 2020 | Detroit | 18 | 49 | .220 | .278 | .290 | 1 | 5 |
| 2021 | Detroit | 32 | 107 | .215 | .278 | .313 | 2 | 11 |
| 2022 | Tampa Bay | 12 | 30 | .212 | .267 | .364 | 1 | 3 |
This table compares Paredes’ performance with the Detroit Tigers in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons, as well as his performance with the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2022 season.
The table includes metrics such as games played, plate appearances, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, and RBI, which provide a good snapshot of Paredes’ performance over the past few years.
By comparing his performance with both teams, we can see that Paredes’ numbers with the Rays are slightly better than his numbers with the Tigers, which could be an encouraging sign for his future with his new team.
FAQs
How has Austin Meadows performed with the Detroit Tigers since the trade?
As of the time of writing, Meadows has played in 23 games for the Tigers and has recorded 87 plate appearances. He has posted a batting average of .188, an on-base percentage of .299, and a slugging percentage of .266. He has yet to hit a home run with the Tigers.
What other prospects did the Tigers receive in the trade?
The Tigers did not receive any additional prospects in the trade. They acquired Austin Meadows and a competitive balance round B pick in the 2022 MLB draft in exchange for Isaac Paredes.
What other trades have the Rays made recently to acquire young talent?
The Rays are known for their ability to identify and develop young talent, and they have made a number of trades in recent years to acquire promising prospects. Some notable examples include the trade that brought Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows to the Rays in exchange for Chris Archer in 2018, and the trade that brought Wander Franco to the Rays in exchange for Matthew Liberatore and Edgardo Rodriguez in 2019.
What is the competitive balance in round B in the MLB draft?
The competitive balance round B is a round of the MLB draft that occurs after the second round. The order of the round is determined by a lottery that is conducted among a group of small-market and low-revenue teams.
The teams that are selected in the lottery are given an additional pick at the end of the second round and the end of the competitive balance round A.
The teams that are not selected in the lottery are given an additional pick at the end of the competitive balance round B.
Conclusion
The Tampa Bay Rays made a shrewd move when they acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from the Detroit Tigers on April 4, 2022. Paredes is a young player with a good bat and solid defensive skills, and he has the potential to become a valuable contributor to the Rays’ roster in the coming years.
While it’s still early to fully evaluate his performance with the Rays, he has shown flashes of his potential and has already contributed with a home run and three RBI in his first 12 games with the team.
The trade that brought Paredes to the Rays was a win-win for both teams, as the Tigers were able to acquire an established outfielder in Austin Meadows and a valuable draft pick, while the Rays were able to add a promising young infielder to their roster.
As a versatile infielder who can play multiple positions, Paredes provides depth and flexibility to the Rays’ roster and could potentially compete for playing time at second base or third base.
Overall, the addition of Isaac Paredes to the Rays’ roster is another example of the team’s ability to identify and develop young talent, and it will be interesting to see how he continues to perform in the coming years.
If he can continue to improve and reach his full potential, he could become a key part of the Rays’ success both in the short-term and the long term.
