Cubs giving Morel work at first base this winter

[Brock Beauchamp]

Are they trying to increase his positional flexibility for the 2024 Cubs or another team?

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/cubs-trade-rumors-christopher-morel-first-base.html

[Rcal10]

44 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Are they trying to increase his positional flexibility for the 2024 Cubs or another team?

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/cubs-trade-rumors-christopher-morel-first-base.html

Both, but probably another team.

[jersey cubs fan]

Cue pedantic discussion around who exactly is deciding where Morel plays defensively in winter ball. 

[Bertz]

To me, the main takeaway here is that Morel is not getting run at 3B, which means he's pretty overwhelmingly likely to get dealt.

The other thing is it's a CYA move from Jed.  The Cubs basically need to add two bats this winter, and have openings at 1B/DH/3B.  Based on who's out there on the market, it feels likely that Jed adds a 1B and a DH, but there are certainly scenarios where 1B gets all left open.  For example a Juan Soto and Jorge Polanco offseason.  You don't want in that scenario to be forced either to sell Morel or otherwise bury him on the depth chart.  Morel at 1B is imperfect but it's at least a potential path to more or less everyday at bats.

But mostly this is confirmation he's getting traded.

[Tryptamine]

If they see him at 1B and another team sees him as a 2B, he's basically a must trade.

[Jason Ross]

Yeah, I agree with most here. I think this is a signal the Cubs are definitely going to look to move him, but want to have a fallback if they don't. Strangely enough, he probably would be a decent enough 1b. If he hits like his career line, he'd be a slightly above average 1b, as league average 1b was 108 wRC+ and he's a career 114 wRC+. Last season he hit 119 wRC+ which would have made him the 10th best 1b in the league. Defensively, it'd probably be a bit of a questionmark, as I think 1b is a bit harder to play than "anyone, anytime, whatever" that I think sometimes it's portrayed, but he's athletic enough that you'd have to think he'd figure it mostly out.

I think he's probably best served as a 2b and it's okay for the Cubs to admit that. It's also okay for the Cubs to trade players and admit that they have 2 useful 2b and that they have to pick one. 

Edited November 10, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[SOFNR]

The cubs need a 1B. They clearly don't think he can play 3B well. Why not see if he can give you above average defense at 1B? I'm not sure it means much more then that. Nothings going to stop you from picking up a better 1B or trading Morel in the right deal. But they're just exploring their options.

[squally1313]

It's certainly better if he can play one position vs zero positions, though I guess this doesn't automatically mean they think he can't play second...we just already have one of those. Looking at his raw tools (crazy strong arm, fast) and picking first base when centerfield is the other big opening is a bit of an odd choice. 

[Rcal10]

I think he has proven he can’t play center to the same level he has proven he can’t play 3rd. So I guess they want to try 1st.

[Jason Ross]

40 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

It's certainly better if he can play one position vs zero positions, though I guess this doesn't automatically mean they think he can't play second...we just already have one of those. Looking at his raw tools (crazy strong arm, fast) and picking first base when centerfield is the other big opening is a bit of an odd choice. 

He's been pretty awful in the limited time he's gotten in CF. He's a - 7 DRS in 540 IP there. That'd be among the worst 5 CF'ers in baseball last year defensively, Conversely, I'm not sure the Cubs have a huge hole. They've got PCA who's knocking on the door, and with his defense/speed he's basically a 2 fWAR CF'er today regardless of how he hits. They also have Mike Tauchmann, who I wouldn't really want as a starter, but if they felt PCA needed 2 months in Iowa, they'd probably survive there. 

He's quite athletic, but just doesn't seem to be a good fit in the OF. He takes pretty awful routes (in his limited time in CF, he's been a highly negative route runner, burst, and reaction time player). Part of that could be simply not playing there much. But part of that is instinctual, as well. 

Edited November 10, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[Cuzi]

Morel reads a fly ball as well as the kids in the outfield at the HR derby.

[JHBulls]

[KCCub]

 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, KCCub said:

 

Maybe the Cubs asked them to play him at 3rd……

Personally I think way too much was made out of him getting work at 1st. I think that is fine. But unlike most, I did not let that lead me to deciding the Cubs gave up on him playing 3rd. I still think once winter ball is over he will be worked at 3rd by Cubs coaches. For me, that is his best option. And if he can’t do it they will need to move him, IMO.

[Bertz]

Getting from 3B for Jonathan Villar is...not a great endorsement

 

[Tim]

7 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Getting from 3B for Jonathan Villar is...not a great endorsement

 

meh, maybe Yadiel had a tight hammy before the game or something

 

[CubUgly]

On 11/10/2023 at 1:32 PM, Rcal10 said:

I think he has proven he can’t play center to the same level he has proven he can’t play 3rd. So I guess they want to try 1st.

I did hear Carter Hawkins say just the other day he'll work at 1st and 3rd, but it does seem apparent the Cubs don't think he can play third, no matter how much work he gets there.  What is it that the Cubs are seeing to make them believe this so seemingly strongly?

[Jason Ross]

32 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

I did hear Carter Hawkins say just the other day he'll work at 1st and 3rd, but it does seem apparent the Cubs don't think he can play third, no matter how much work he gets there.  What is it that the Cubs are seeing to make them believe this so seemingly strongly?

Coming up through the MiLB, he's had over 1,000 innings at the position, and likely far more practice over there as well. Whatever is in the data, the scouting, the internals...the Cubs just don't seem to like. They had a pretty easy hole for Morel to fill at 3b last year and he got 5 games there. I've read a few places that people question his arm slot when he throws, and that it doesn't really work well for 3b, so it could be that, but I think there might be a bit more to it as well. Morel, a highly athletic runner, just sucks in the OF. There seems to be a disconnect there between his reaction time, route running, etc and his natural athleticism, and I wonder if the same is true at 3b. 2b allows for a bit easier of a time, enough to perhaps make up for that lack of instinctual reaction. 

[CubUgly]

36 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Coming up through the MiLB, he's had over 1,000 innings at the position, and likely far more practice over there as well. Whatever is in the data, the scouting, the internals...the Cubs just don't seem to like. They had a pretty easy hole for Morel to fill at 3b last year and he got 5 games there. I've read a few places that people question his arm slot when he throws, and that it doesn't really work well for 3b, so it could be that, but I think there might be a bit more to it as well. Morel, a highly athletic runner, just sucks in the OF. There seems to be a disconnect there between his reaction time, route running, etc and his natural athleticism, and I wonder if the same is true at 3b. 2b allows for a bit easier of a time, enough to perhaps make up for that lack of instinctual reaction. 

Thanks for the info 1908, I had knew he'd played "some" third but no idea he's had that many innings. 

He kind of reminds me of Soriano a bit....a very streaky hitter with power that K's a lot and struggled defensively both as an infielder and an outfielder.