The trade deadline is a crazy time for everybody around baseball – front office executives, coaches, fans, media members.

But it’s always craziest for the players, who are shuttled from one city to the next on a moment’s notice, uprooting their families and having to assimilate into a new clubhouse on the fly.

MLB players often reference how a team is like a family because during the course of the 8-month season (including Spring Training), they see their teammates more than their own family.

So it’s understandable how the trade deadline has a profound effect even on the players who are not switching teams.

[WATCH: Jed Hoyer’s press conference following the trade deadline]

The Cubs kicked things off a bit early this summer, trading for Nate Pearson on Saturday and then dealing away Christopher Morel for Isaac Paredes in the middle of Sunday afternoon’s game.

Morel was in the lineup Sunday but had to be removed once the trade with the Rays went down.

“I knew when [Michael Busch] went up to the on-deck circle,” Pete Crow-Armstrong said of the Morel deal. “I didn’t quite know if it was an injury or what. That’s my friend; that’s our guy. He brings the energy every day. It’s a tough one.

“I don’t know much about the whole trade but a good example of Christopher Morel is him coming back through the dugout and giving everybody a hug. I got that moment with him and just paid homage to him with a little jump high-five.

“Gonna miss him a lot. But he’s gonna take his smile to Tampa and it’s gonna be good for him.”

Javier Assad was the Cubs’ starting pitcher in Sunday’s game and didn’t find out that Morel had been traded until he came out of the game. Assad and Morel grew up together through the Cubs system and are good friends.

“I got a chance to say goodbye,” Assad said through interpreter Fredy Quevedo Jr. “He’s a good friend of mine on the field and off. He’s onto a new journey now.”

Assad also has a connection to Paredes, as the two played against each other in Mexico before their time as big-leaguers.

“He’s a great ballplayer,” Assad said of Paredes. “I knew him before here. We actually faced each other in Mexico in the North League. He’s always been a great player. The numbers speak for themselves.”

Veteran starter Jameson Taillon was one of the players who saw his name bandied about in trade rumors but ultimately remained on the Cubs roster.

Taillon has always had a strong knack for assessing the big picture of a team and felt the Cubs’ moves at the deadline put them in a place for a bright future.

“I know we say it a lot around here but I feel like we do have a good group as is right now,” Taillon said Monday night. “And then we went out and made this team better, I think. And it’s for years to come, too.

“That’s exciting and I know there’s some good free agent classes coming up and stuff like that. So if it doesn’t work out this year, I think we’re in a good spot to be good next year.”

Paredes joining the Cubs lineup provides the team with a stable everyday option at third base. Morel had a lot of runway at third base this season but the team wanted better defense at the hot corner and the lineup had been trending toward Morel spending more time at DH than in the field.

Paredes is also under team control through the 2027 season, so he can provide long-term stability at third base.

“Great player,” Patrick Wisdom said of Paredes. “I’m sure he’s gonna fit really well in this lineup and for this organization and this team. I know guys are excited to have him here.”

Paredes made his Cubs debut Tuesday night, going 0-for-4 as he hit 5th and manned third base for the team. Cody Bellinger also made his return to the lineup Tuesday night after missing several weeks with a finger fracture.

“The quality of at-bat,” said Bellinger as he explained what stands out about Paredes. “His walk to strikeout ratio is pretty close. Just a guy that has quality at-bats. He hits the ball square a lot of the time. Puts the ball in play. Solid defensively as well. Just a really well-rounded player.”

As for Leiter, that was a tough move for some Cubs players to digest, though it helped the team in the future. Jed Hoyer’s front office flipped a 33-year-old veteran pitcher for two young players that are in the upper minors and can potentially help the club down the line.

Adbert Alzolay, Luke Little and Ethan Roberts were among those who shared their thoughts on Instagram about Leiter’s departure:

Justin Steele had a good perspective on the trade deadline as a whole, even if the Cubs weren’t in a position they wanted to be in – as surefire buyers gearing up for a playoff push.

“Situations like this happen all the time across baseball,” Steele said after Tuesday’s 6-3 loss. “With every bad thing that happens, it doesn’t matter what team you’re on, there’s probably gonna be some good that comes out of it. When we had the trade-off in ’21, I had ample opportunity in the starting rotation and was able to find my footing and catch a groove and ran with it.

“It’s important not just for people on our team but for players across baseball. With every bad, there’s some good.”

For a full breakdown of the Cubs trade deadline coverage, head to the Marquee Sports Network app.

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