The Cubs are planning to get slugger Christopher Morel some work at first base in winter ball this offseason, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said at this week’s GM Meetings (link via Meaghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune). The 24-year-old Morel has impressed the club with his power through his first season-plus in the big leagues but has yet to settle into a defensive home. Hoyer noted that Morel is a “very capable second baseman,” but the presence of Nico Hoerner there and Dansby Swanson at shortstop clouds Morel’s positional outlook.
Morel made his big league debut with the Cubs in 2022, appearing in 113 games and taking 425 plate appearances while bouncing all over the field. He logged a nearly identical amount of playing time in a similar role this past season. On the whole, he’s played in 220 games, taken 854 plate appearances, and posted a combined .241/.311/.471 slash with 42 home runs and 16 steals.
The power Morel has to offer is obvious, but it comes with some red flags as well; Morel has fanned in 31.6% of his plate appearances. Though he draws walks at a roughly average 8.7% clip, the frequent punchouts lead to low batting averages and drag down his overall on-base percentage. Couple that with sub-par defensive grades at every position other than second base, and he’s been something of a square peg in a round hole on the Cubs’ roster.
Looking to the 2024 season, however, Chicago doesn’t have an obvious solution at first base. Free agent Cody Bellinger manned that position frequently in 2023 after a head-scratching run with Eric Hosmer didn’t pan out and after prospect Matt Mervis failed to hit the ground running. Mervis is still just 25 and has posted video game numbers in two Triple-A seasons, but he batted only .167/.242/.289 in 99 big league plate appearances during his debut. He could get another look this season, but Morel has already produced at the plate in the big leagues, so there’s plenty of sense in taking the offseason to see if he can handle the position to get his bat into the lineup.
Of course, given the lack of a clear fit on the Cubs’ roster, it’s only natural to wonder whether Morel might end up being utilized as a trade chip. Montemurro suggests such a path is possible for the Cubs, and Hoyer himself followed his comment about Morel being a capable second baseman by noting that “another team might be able to put him [at second base].” That said, Hoyer also noted that finding a defensive home for Morel on the Cubs’ roster “would be really valuable,” noting that first base specifically fits the Cubs’ needs.
There’s no definitive declaration that Morel will be shopped this winter, but it’s easy enough to see the appeal. Questions about his hit tool notwithstanding, when Morel does make contact, it’s typically quite loud. Beyond the raw home run numbers, he was in the 91st percentile or better in terms of average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrel rate, per Statcast. He also boasts 81st percentile sprint speed and 99th percentile arm strength on his throws (which would seem something of a waste at first base).
On top of the loud tools, Morel has less than two years of big league service time. Any club acquiring him would be picking up five years of control over him. Morel probably won’t be eligible for arbitration until after the 2025 season, although he’s on track to finish the 2024 campaign right on the cusp of Super Two eligibility, so there’s some chance that’ll come after the 2024 campaign. Regardless, he’s under team control through the 2028 season.
I’d rather they re-sign Bellinger. Maybe it’ll work out. You never know.
22 per year for 10 years for a 110 wRC+ bat at first base?
Definitely not for 10 years. 5-6 max. If he wants 300mil then I’d be okay with the cubs moving on. Maybe get Hopkins on a Bslli like deal. 1 yr. 15-18mil to show that he’s healthy. Or sign Candelario for cheap 2-3 years for 1st and 3rd when needed.
You wanna tie up a guy for 4 to 6 years at a cieling high price who came off one great season after having terrible injuries that set him back and got him kicked off his original team?
I’m not saying he doesn’t have talent but he doesn’t have a great track record lately and he came off a career contract year just getting back to the game…
Good luck with that
Might make sense to give Rhys Hoskins a “conforto deal”.
High character dude with potentially a chip on his shoulder?
Good thought but it seems like Hoskins could do better. Good track record and now a fully healed knee.
Poet
If you want a “high-character” guy, can’t do much better than Morel.
It’s the defense and on-base percentage that make Morel a bat-first utility guy to me.
He’s coming off a serious injury. Give him a 1 year “proven it” deal to see what he does first. If he puts up numbers like Bellinger he’ll get his well earned payday.
the terrible hitting options elsewhere will probably beg a second year, maybe on an option, out of the team signing hoskins. whoever misses out on belli and jeimer will probably be ready to overpay for rhys
His bat gives him a chance to be a star. Its got that sound and velo when he’s right. If he can handle 1st, they will keep him. I think he can put up 40 jacks.
It’s incredibly hard …
Why not get him more reps at 3B, where they have a hole? I bet they end up with Alonso or Hoskins at 1B.
Thought the same but they must not like him there. I guess they’ve seen enough.
They’ve tried him at third in the minors and majors and he just can’t get a handle on throwing accuracy. The piece mentions 99 percentile arm strength, which is great- But what good is that if the throws are off? I really like this kid, but if first base doesn’t work, I think Hoyer will trade him.
Not going to try him at 3B because that post will be filled via FA. Turner, Chapman or bringing Candyman back. He doesn’t have a defensive position or spot and at worst it gives him more trade value which I believe is their intent anyway.
The more I think about Cubs situation. If you miss on Bellinger or wishful thinking Ohtani, a Hoskin/Chapman combo really lengthens that lineup. Chapman, Swanson, Hoerner would be the best defensive infield in the majors. If you do have that infield combo it would almost seem like a travesty not to have a good defensive first baseman. A Morel/Hoskin combo would probably be pretty bad defensively but you never know.
I feel like they’re going to trade for Alonso but maybe a year deal for Hoskins would be just as good (or at least close enough) to where you can get a good player and not trade any minor leaguers.
Alonso is NOT for sale despite what you read from hacks.
Fans been dreaming since a report came out they talked.
If the mets are dangling him, which would be so DUMB, INCREDIBLY DUMB, they will take the highest bidder and that doesn’t mean the cubs yet their fans just think alonso will be the opening day first baseman
I agree as a Cubs fan, they aren’t getting him, they’ll be signing a third baseman. I’ll be shocked if Morel isn’t traded this off season
I think his numbers are great for this many games. He will be better without Ross. It’s crazy that people are expecting players to hit better than this so early in their careers. That goes for Mervis as well. The guy had 99 ABs and it feels like people have written him off. He needs an opportunity. They need a proven slugger at 3B (since we have none) and we can try out these kids at 1B, DH, and CF (PCA.) Save that payroll for some pitching.
They won’t be “trying out” anyone at the big league level when its go time.
Nervous Mervis
He can put up similiar numbers as those two with more upside, and substantially cheaper. I can see him at 1st and Justin Turner at third as a stopgap. I really dont know, maybe you’re right and they trade Christopher or he stays at dh but think they go very hard for Ohtani. Gonna be a fun off season.
Thank Turners days at third are just about over. He would be a good first base/dh option along with Hoskins.
If they are just gonna rep Morel @ 1B to warm the seat for Mervis, or potentially a platoon (yes, I know Morel has reverse splits), hopefully it’s a sign the Cubs are more interested in Ohtani than Bellinger.
Mervis gets traded is my guess.
Cubs trying to find another position that Morel can be bad defensively at.
cubs trying to stuff the roster with career minor leaguers.
If they’re gonna work on anything with him, I’d rather it be trying to make him into a serviceable third baseman. Like the article says, seems like a bit of a waste at first with his arm as good as it is. Wonder if this is evidence that they’re gonna be making a strong play for Chapman or Candelario.
The Cubs had Morel in their Dominican Baseball Academy; I suspect that they know he can’t play third base.
And have five-six years of seeing him t here. Just hasn’t proven he can play it at a high level in professional baseball.
I’m all for the attempt at first base.
Pretty telling that Hoyer’s quote pigeon holed him almost exclusively as a viable second basemen, of which t he Cubs have a Gold Glover.
I believe Morel will be traded, as it just doesn’t make sense to me where his value is any higher to the team. He’s blocked at 2B and in the OF. He is not going to hurt any team as an OFer – especially if he gets regular reps in one spot.
Yes he might work out at 1B, but so would other candidates the team could try there.
But the main thing I believe is being overlooked here, is that Morel is another RH bat!! I mean, where is the balance in the lineup? Happ and maybe PCA? 1B or 3B need to have a LH bat, along with another as the primary DH.
And with Counsell as mgr, I think we will be seeing more opportunities given to less proven players – and CF, 1B and 3B are basically where that is likely to happen.
So I see Morel traded for a LH bat, that can be helpful at least in 2024.
Shouldn’t the cubs give mervis another chance? He was very bad but 99 PAs is a very small sample size,many prospects are bad their first 200-300 PAs and mervis was very good in AAA again this year.
Obviously he is 25 so his struggles in mlb and success in AAA is to be judged differently than a 21 year old would be (less room for improvement and a chance that he beat AAA more due to experience than through huge talent) but I would still give him another chance. If he is bad for another 200 PAs you maybe can re evaluate
Just because Morel is taking reps at first base doesn’t mean the Cubs are writing off Mervis (or not considering Hoskins or a trade for Alonso).
I will say the biggest red flag about Mervis (to me) is the Cubs scouting department went for Young over Mervis during the playoff push last season. That tells me the scouts and player development team didn’t like something they were seeing with Mervis.
I personally would prefer Morel to be able to stick at third, Chapman and Candelario are both wastes of money in my opinion. Morel has a really strong throwing arm but it’s erratic. Having a subpar first baseman with Morel at third is a circus waiting to happen if CM cannot improve his accuracy.
Morel has proven that he can hit ML pitching (to an extent), Mervis has not, which means if Morel can learn first, it gives the Cubs options. It’s just like anything when you cover you bets. Right now the Cubs want to keep Morels bat in the line up but they would be limited in free agency if they have to continue to use him as DH only.
Last thought, Hoyer was slightly misquoted in the article:
“I think he’s a very capable second baseman,” Hoyer said. “We have a guy that’s won a Gold Glove (Nico Hoerner), so that’s not the spot we’re gonna put him. I think another team might be able to put him there and have him do that. I think it’s both marrying those things.”
That sounds like Hoyer is open to shopping Morel.
dras—completely agree that this doesn’t mean that the Cubs are giving up on Mervis. There is way too much criticism that he didn’t get the chance–but what a lot of people are just flat out dismissing is that during that month he was up, he didn’t perform over the top–and MORE IMPORTANTLY—when Bellinger returned from a month off with the knee injury he played first base exclusively for the first two weeks–he was not ready to go back to the outfield right away.
I think the Cubs desperately like Morel’s bat and are trying to find a place that they can play him without completely fracturing their defense orientated philosophy.
The Cubs are trying real hard to find a spot in the field for Morel. His best spot(2B) Is taken by one of the best young players in the Organization. I still say Mervis can play 1B and for a long time, And who knows what Counsell wants. We don’t even know who the coaches are going to be yet and what they can or can’t teach him. The fact that Young was called up up last year instead of Mervis means nothing as Young can play 3 or 4 positions which is probably what Ross wanted. Young is gone and was never in the long term plans. There’s a lot things going on right now and I’m quite sure for 8 million bucks a year, Counsell will have a huge say on some personnel issues going forward. Once again I would love to be a fly in the wall at the Cubs offices this winter.
This from a Phillies fan. I was disappointed the Phillies cut ties with Hoskins. Like a previous poster noted, he’s a high character guy and clubhouse leader. Plus, every line up could use 30 HR and 90+ RBIs.
Yep, BA has been on the low side, but only old school guys still value BA. Conversely, his OBP is about 100 points higher, and that’s more important than BA.
Cubs would be wise to offer Hoskins, say, two years at $15 million per year with a player option for more cheese (Maybe $20 million).in 2026.
Phillies having 2 of the worst defensive corner OFs and Bryce Harper is why there wasn’t really room for Hoskins. Schwarber needs to DH and Harper was fine at 1B making the defense in the OF better.
Old school guys also like players who can play defense as well as hit above MLB avg. of .250. It’s still baseball and no one invented anything new because of extra numbers on a spreadsheet. The acceptance of mediocrity and hyperbole attached to guys who only want to pull the ball and swing from their shoes on every pitch is what’s getting old.
Trying to entice the Mets. “He’s a first baseman, want him for Alonso?” Lol
Yikes these aren’t video game trades where you put on commissioner mode.
Mets would hang up easily if the cubs dangle a way way lesser version of Alonso as trade bait
He’s young and controllable for longer. If the cubs paired a prospect or two with him, I could easily see that trade happening. Unless the Mets are still mad about getting fleeced for PCA.
If you can’t sign Belli for a 4-6 yr deal then I’m all for it.
No way Boras is going to take less than like 8 or 9 years.
Then as much as I like Belli I think you gotta take a pass. These long term contracts never age well, Lester was out of gas last 2 yrs of that 6yr deal
I’m afraid you’re right. Even Shohei would be tough to give 10 years too considering he’s already almost 30. I’d only be comfortable giving out a ten year deal to a superstar caliber player under the age of say 26.
99 PA for Mervis really isn’t a fair chance. Heck Bellinger got 3 years to get it back.
Bellinger has an MVP and ROY, which carry a lot more weight than strong numbers in Triple-A. Also, he was bad for “only” two years.
“To get it bad.” Mervis hasn’t done anything yet in the MLB to “get back.”
Why does everyone want Bellinger back? I get he was great this year but how do you know that’s sustainable?
The reason people believe Bellinger will sustain his success is because they (myself included) believe he “figured it out”.
First, Bellinger was hurt. A shoulder injury take a long time to get back to full strength. Even now I’m not sure it’s full strength.
What Bellinger did was sell out for contact vs power this past year. The Cubs hitting coach is the same guy Bellinger was with in LA when he was successful. It appears he got in his ear about letting it rip with less than two strikes and then focusing on contact.
So many players sell out for power but it generally equates to minimal increases in home runs vs taking a “put it in play” two strike approach, which leads to better results.
He was the Cubs best hitter, very good centerfielder and 1st baseman, clutch, and one of the team leaders. Besides that I don’t want him back.
Is he worth the fortune he will cost the Cubs?
That’s the question of the day isn’t it?
I personally think money could be rationed better elsewhere. Tying up Bellinger for 4 to 6 years is risky business given his recent track record.
Hear he’s a good teammate…a real fungi.
Doesn’t mean he will mushroom into a great player.
Couple of thoughts here. Not a Cubs fan as well. However, he has shown great power with even more power potential. His best feature seems to be his arm strength which looks special. RF and 3B look to be the best spots to put him with that kind of arm. He may have to grow into one of those two positions but if he can hit like he has shown, you live with those ups and downs, like the Jays did at SS with Bichette until he gets at least league average there defensively. I have no idea who the Cubs have in RF but does that person match that kind of arm strength and speed combo? Lastly, if they really want to trade him then my Jays should be on the phone with the Cubs because they have openings at 2B and 3B and plenty of talent to trade for him.
Morel has zero arm accuracy which is why he isn’t a viable option for third or outfield. He has a strong arm but it is wildly inaccurate.
I’m not a cubs fan either but I think Seiya Suzuki played the majority of games in RF this year. He has a strong arm and is a good hitter. Perhaps he or Morel can play LF, I’m not sure of the Cubs position depth chart though. If the Cubs are trading Morel, I could see a team like the Braves taking a chance on him and putting him in LF on the likelihood that his bat provides offensive value.
Any other team with a strong defensive alignment could also play him at LF and be OK. That’s where you put limited players defensively in the past. There are also several other teams who could use a second baseman like the White Sox, Blue Jays, Mariners. Team control and a strong offensive profile could bring back a decent prospect or MLB ready player for a team with a fit for him.
Edit before I get spammed, forgot the Cubs have Happ in left yikes what a dumb error.
Cubs have two time gold glover Ian Happ in left for three years (both fortunately and unfortunately) plus Canario who needs to get at bats at the ML level.
Morel has a future as a utility player. His arm is great but struggles hitting the broad side of a barn with it. That’s why the Cubs want him on the right side of the infield. His range at second is solid and the thought I’m sure is he can take that range to first and limit his arm usage which is his biggest liability.
Of course, Morel as a utility player is fine. He’s more than capable to handling third for a day, rf, lf, second and even short. He’s Jake Croensworth, maybe a little more dynamic defensively with a weaker hit tool. You just don’t want Morel manning any position more than on occasion at the moment.
Guess this means no bellinger no Alonso
Oh no I’m sure Jed will be heavily in on both of them, working to see what kind of deal he can get. That will determine what the Cubs do.
Cubbies will be better off re-signing Cody Bellinger and perhaps, make a run at Hoskins as well. They also need to sort out the Rotation. Giolito could be a good piece for them in that Rotation as well….I’ll just let Morel stake over at 3B permanent and play around the Diamond when needed…..I would also bring back Madrigal too. I know Cubbies aren’t known for spending, but these player won’t break the bank….it’s not like they’re signing Ohtani.
Wow, I had zero idea that Nico Hoerner put up a 5.1 BWAR last year. That’s insane considering he slashed a 97 OPS+ last year. It also raises some eyebrows to the accuracy of BBREF war.
It raises no eyebrows if you watch him play every day.
I’ve watched Nico play plenty. I know he is a very valuable player but this was me pointing out that the intricacies of WAR is far from perfect and while I believe WAR as a stat has value, it shouldn’t be looked at as gospel. For example, Cody Bellinger put up a 4.4 war last season. Do any of you think that Hoerner had a better year then Belli? I hope not. Great Defense and nice base running doesn’t make up for the huge discrepancy in offensive production. Ah OPS+ is useless you say? So I guess you prefer the whole five points in either direction that is usually the difference in OPS+ and WRC+?
Speaks to the uselessness of OPS+.
Nico earned himself a gold glove this season but even still his defense is underrated. That guy has phenomenal range at second base and explosive instincts. On the bases he swiped over 40 bags and really it should have been more. Early in the season when Nico was top two in stolen bases, Ross had the Cubs stop stealing (brilliant managerial decision that led to a terrible stretch of 5 losing streaks in 4 weeks)
I’m not sure if I want Nico stealing more than 40 bags. I just kind of have a feeling that it might not be conducive to his long term health. The way some of these guys slide nowadays it makes me wonder. I’d rather have him steal less if it means he plays more games. Nothing to base that on except my gut feeling. I think between 30 and 40 is just fine.
@unclemike
Agreed
I don’t understand why people think Morel taking some reps at first will somehow prevent the Cubs from signing or trading for a player.
Right now, Morel is a dh/utility player but his utility value is limited because of his arm. He CAN play third and outfield but he really shouldn’t. If he can play first base, that opens up a lot of options for the Cubs considering they have gotten very little from that position over the past few years.
I also think Hoyer is dangling Morel in trade talks.
This team that focus’s on ground ball outs, has 2 GG winners up the middle, should not be going with an unproven defensive player at first. A bad 1B makes the whole infield look bad. I love Morel, he’s a lot of fun to watch, and he loves the game as much as we do, but he might be better served on a different team.
I’m not sure what to make of all the Ohtani to the Cubs talk. In the beginning I thought the chances of him being here were about the same as me winning the lottery, And I don’t play. After seeing the the Counsell move I thought odds increased to 1 in 500,000. I still doubt he comes here but on the slim chance he does, Then Morel is surely gone for some pitching and 3B becomes a possibility for resigning Candelerio. Then Bellinger isn’t really needed anymore and you can live with getting say a Hoskins for 1B, Candelerio for 3B and Ohtani is your DH for the next however many years. That’s a pretty good lineup with solid depth pieces in the organization to trade or bring up in case of injuries. Just tossing it out there. I still think it’s still all a big long shot.
I strongly doubt Ohtani is going to come to Chicago and if you’re going to make that play for Ohtani, you might as well make that play for Bellinger and Yamamoto instead.
Honestly, with the rumor the Phillies are shopping Castellanos, I’d offer Smyly and Bote (clearing 14 million) and go find blazing for Bellie and Yamamoto. I’ll figure out the next two years of Castellanos later but him at 6 million next year? All for it.
I say sign hogkins to play first. Sign Chapman to play 3b. Best in field in MLB. Except for first and platoon merves at first not to bad and save some money for pitching Chapman shouldn’t be that expensive or hodkins not sure but try and get montrygomy. nola will be way to much Jordan Montgomery stays healthy too but that’s just an opinion