Article: 2024 Cubs Camp Storylines: Christopher Morel's Position

[Brandon Glick]

As one of the best bats in the Cubs’ lineup, the team has every incentive to find Morel a permanent defensive home during the 2024 season.

Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Christopher Morel is a known quantity with his bat. He proved his major league bona fides by posting an .826 OPS in 429 at-bats last year, a big improvement on his already-impressive .741 OPS from his rookie season. By OPS+, he was 16% better than the league average hitter, and his 26 home runs tied for the team lead with Cody Bellinger. He’s as important to the Cubs’ lineup as anyone else on the roster, so manager Craig Counsell aims to bat him in the top half of the order daily. 

Despite his power-hitting prowess, Morel hasn’t fully established himself as an everyday player, and fans are well-versed in why by now: the 24-year-old can’t find a defensive home. Throughout his time in the minor league, Morel played primarily at second base, though he moonlighted at a handful of other positions. With Nico Hoerner entrenched at the keystone for the Cubs, Morel has shifted around the diamond frequently, playing every single position besides first base and catcher during his time in Chicago. Despite his versatility, he hasn’t settled in anywhere, and he ended up playing more than half (61 of 107) of his games as the designated hitter last year. 

Of course, Morel has the bat to keep pace with some of the league’s better hitters at DH, but that isn’t the issue. The problem is the Cubs have a hyper-athletic 24-year-old who can’t stick at one position despite, according to Statcast, landing in the 82nd percentile in sprint speed and 99th percentile (!) in arm strength. The Cubs have determined they’ll give Morel the first crack at locking down third base long-term. It’s bound to be a competition - the team has Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom, Michael Busch, and Miles Mastrobuoni as third base-capable options on the 40-man roster (and top prospect Matt Shaw is already banging down the door to Triple-A Iowa after getting drafted in the first round last year). However, Counsell has thrown his weight behind Morel, telling reporters at camp: “Let’s evaluate that as we go but let’s give him a chance at third base; let’s give him some consistency at third base. ‘See where we’re at roster-wise at some point in camp and then go forward from there."

Morel’s predominant issue is his range and instincts; last year, he posted a well-below-average -7 Outs Above Average despite limited playing time in the field. As such, the Cubs have been working with him to improve his first step, and they’ll adjust his positioning relative to the bag to account for his arm strength and shortstop Dansby Swanson’s gold glove range (i.e., they’ll let Morel play closer to the foul line since he can make throws from that distance to first base with ease). 

Early in Spring Training, Morel has gotten a lot of action at third base, serving as the Cubs’ definitive starter for single-squad games. Some of the results of his hard work have been impressive:

Other times, he’s still producing multiple gaffes in the same game, fumbling routine grounders, or air-mailing basic throws across the diamond:

https://www.mlb.com/video/christopher-morel-s-intersting-day-at-3rd-base

Even with his errors, the Cubs have stuck by Morel, consistently starting him at third and letting him work through his issues. “Hopefully, frankly, [there are] mistakes,” Counsell told reporters after the game against the Los Angeles Angels. “I want mistakes because you learn from mistakes. I want action — balls hit to you. That’s what I’m rooting for in the game. Let’s hit a lot of balls to Christopher Morel. You want that. From that perspective, he’s on the field every morning and getting that accomplished. We’re in good shape.”

It will likely be third base or bust for Morel this season in the field. Hoerner and Swanson, respectively, lock down second base and shortstop, and the outfield triumvirate of Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger, and Seiya Suzuki will be patrolling left, center, and right field as long as they’re all healthy and well-rested. It’s true that, eventually, Pete Crow-Armstrong could push Bellinger back to first base, which could have a domino effect with Michael Busch and Morel, but that’s a conversation best saved for another time. 

For now, expect Morel to be the Cubs’ starting third baseman on Opening Day. Only time will tell how long their leash is with him at the hot corner, but they’re going to get bat in the lineup, one way or another. Madrigal's defensive performance at third last year has given fans hope that Morel can acclimate himself similarly rapidly, though even if his glove never lives up to its potential, the young slugger will remain a key cog in the team’s plans for contention.

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[Rcal10]

44 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

I read this and immediately thought “not really.” What do they care? He makes like a $1, hit 26 HRs last year with more or less the periphs to back it, and signed a decade ago for pocket change. Morel’s money for the Cubs already no matter what happened, doesn’t even really need to build on last year to have had tons and tons of Value to the org already

The one with all the incentive to find a position is Morel. Clouds are going to be moving in on all the sunshine and lollipops as arb and FA near. Often that’s when players catch the aging disease, 100% fatal in the long run and known to target employees in some position to ask for some money. 

Obviously Morel has an incentive to find a home as well. If he becomes an average 3rd baseman defensively he makes a whole lot more money than he would as strictly a DH. But the Cubs incentive is if he can handle 3rd it gives them a plus bat there and the ability to rotate DH and/or sign or bring up a bat only guy to DH. In the event PCA comes up at some point this year and if Busch is playing well at 1st they can rotate DH between any of the 3 current staring outfielders and Busch and give each a day off of the field while keeping their bats in the line up. If Morel can handle third that means they don’t have to have one of Madrigal/Wisdom/Mastrobouni in the line up but rather have a better bat there. Instead of Madrigal at 3rd and Morel at DH against a lefty they could have Morel at 3rd and maybe Cooper (who crushes lefties) at DH. Morel at 3rd (if he could handle it) just makes for the opportunity of a better line up. That is incentive enough for the Cubs. 

[Illiterate Scholar]

I'd still be a little surprised if he's actually the starting 3rd baseman on opening day with Steele on the mound. I suspect he'll play 3rd when Imanaga pitches, as it appears he doesn't need infielders. The rest, I'm not so sure.

[Brandon Glick]

5 hours ago, TomtheBombadil said:

I read this and immediately thought “not really.” What do they care? He makes like a $1, hit 26 HRs last year with more or less the periphs to back it, and signed a decade ago for pocket change. Morel’s money for the Cubs already no matter what happened, doesn’t even really need to build on last year to have had tons and tons of Value to the org already

The one with all the incentive to find a position is Morel. Clouds are going to be moving in on all the sunshine and lollipops as arb and FA near. Often that’s when players catch the aging disease, 100% fatal in the long run and known to target employees in some position to ask for some money. 

Morel, of course, has plenty of incentive to find a position. He has a lot more value (to everyone, not just the Cubs), if he can prove himself adequate at third base or left field or wherever.

The Cubs' incentive to find him a home is that they need his power. How many legitimate 30+ homer threats are on the roster right now (besides Morel)? One (Suzuki), maybe two (Bellinger) if you're being really generous? 

If Morel gets consistent playing time at third, he gets 500+ at-bats, and the Cubs can use their DH spot on another hitter. Put another way, if Morel handles third, the Cubs lineup includes Morel at third, plus PCA in center, Belli at first and Busch at DH. If Morel has to DH (and, say, Madrigal plays third), one of Busch, Belli or PCA is dropped from the lineup (or Morel). 

[Rcal10]

20 minutes ago, Brandon Glick said:

Morel, of course, has plenty of incentive to find a position. He has a lot more value (to everyone, not just the Cubs), if he can prove himself adequate at third base or left field or wherever.

The Cubs' incentive to find him a home is that they need his power. How many legitimate 30+ homer threats are on the roster right now (besides Morel)? One (Suzuki), maybe two (Bellinger) if you're being really generous? 

If Morel gets consistent playing time at third, he gets 500+ at-bats, and the Cubs can use their DH spot on another hitter. Put another way, if Morel handles third, the Cubs lineup includes Morel at third, plus PCA in center, Belli at first and Busch at DH. If Morel has to DH (and, say, Madrigal plays third), one of Busch, Belli or PCA is dropped from the lineup (or Morel). 

If Morel plays third when PCA comes back I don’t automatically see Belli at 1st and Busch DH. I think DH rotates between Bellinger, Busch, Happ and Suzuki. But that said, I agree with everything else you said. 

[Brandon Glick]

38 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

If Morel plays third when PCA comes back I don’t automatically see Belli at 1st and Busch DH. I think DH rotates between Bellinger, Busch, Happ and Suzuki. But that said, I agree with everything else you said. 

I'm sure the Cubs will take advantage of resting guys with that DH spot if they can. It's also nice having the luxury of multiple gold glovers (Happ, Belli, Hoerner, Swanson, and even Suzuki won some in Japan) all over the diamond. They can rest any of them on any given day and not lose a step. 

All the more important that Morel finds his home - the versatility it'll give the Cubs on an everyday basis is huge. 

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, Brandon Glick said:

I'm sure the Cubs will take advantage of resting guys with that DH spot if they can. It's also nice having the luxury of multiple gold glovers (Happ, Belli, Hoerner, Swanson, and even Suzuki won some in Japan) all over the diamond. They can rest any of them on any given day and not lose a step. 

All the more important that Morel finds his home - the versatility it'll give the Cubs on an everyday basis is huge. 

Even before PCA comes back up Morel at 3rd allows the Cubs to pick the guy who has the best match up against the pitcher that day as the DH. If Canario or Cooper make the team either can be in the line up at DH against a lefty, If it is a right handed pitcher maybe Tauchman or Mastrobouni make the line up. Maybe instead of PCA in June, Cassie is raking and they bring him up to DH. So many options if Morel can lock the position down. 

 

[LBiittner]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

Even before PCA comes back up Morel at 3rd allows the Cubs to pick the guy who has the best match up against the pitcher that day as the DH. If Canario or Cooper make the team either can be in the line up at DH against a lefty, If it is a right handed pitcher maybe Tauchman or Mastrobouni make the line up. Maybe instead of PCA in June, Cassie is raking and they bring him up to DH. So many options if Morel can lock the position down. 

 

Rcal, if either coop or smith make opening roster, in your opinion, which kid gets knocked off the 40? 

[Tim]

26 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Rcal, if either coop or smith make opening roster, in your opinion, which kid gets knocked off the 40? 

Kilian can go on the 60 man to clear a roster spot, right?

[Rcal10]

27 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Rcal, if either coop or smith make opening roster, in your opinion, which kid gets knocked off the 40? 

Didn’t Killian go to the 60 day IL? If he did he comes off the 40 man. They don’t have to make that decision. 

[Rcal10]

17 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

The catch with this is he doesn’t need to play 3B to hit HRs. 

Crow-Armstrong’s not going to be on the OD roster. Who knows how that ultimately plays out

The thing about all the Morel at 3B pros throughout the thread (except your “another hitter” at DH) is they sound like *anyone* (in a growing pool) taking 3B offers the same (small?) benefits. Like the best early season benefit is a possibly better matchup v LHP? Morel’s the best option at DH v LHP on the roster. DH an OF? Morel’s played the OF before, and maybe DHing the OF is not something likely to happen so often early in the season anyway etc…It’s great if it happens to happen but also they already have a good thing going 

Half the time I don’t know what the hell you are even talking about so maybe I misunderstood your original point. But didn’t you suggest the Cubs don’t really care if Morel can play 3rd and they really don’t have much incentive? Isn’t the fact that if he can play 3rd they can pick whoever else they want in the line up instead of having to have a spot for a weaker hitting 3rd baseman enough of an incentive? In fact, that’s the Cubs incentive, period. And if you ask me a damn good incentive. 

[squally1313]

44 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Half the time I don’t know what the hell you are even talking about so maybe I misunderstood your original point. But didn’t you suggest the Cubs don’t really care if Morel can play 3rd and they really don’t have much incentive? Isn’t the fact that if he can play 3rd they can pick whoever else they want in the line up instead of having to have a spot for a weaker hitting 3rd baseman enough of an incentive? In fact, that’s the Cubs incentive, period. And if you ask me a damn good incentive. 

If I'm following correctly, you have to follow that thought process through. Pencil in your normal line up with Morel at third, there's not some huge bat only stud on the bench ready to fill that DH spot. You can rotate dudes from their normal positions, but there's usually extra days off baked into the early season, these guys are by definition fresh, and moving one of them to DH leaves you with a position that will most likely be filled with a weaker hitter (not so dissimilar from having to put a weaker hitter at third base). Like, Morel DHing and Wisdom or Madrigal playing third vs Morel playing third, a normal outfield starter DHing and Tauchman playing the outfield, in the aggregate, is just Wisdom/Madrigal vs Tauchman. 

It's not Wisdom's bat vs Morel's bat. It's Wisdom's bat vs....anyone else on the bench's bat. And right now they're all about the same. 

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

If I'm following correctly, you have to follow that thought process through. Pencil in your normal line up with Morel at third, there's not some huge bat only stud on the bench ready to fill that DH spot. You can rotate dudes from their normal positions, but there's usually extra days off baked into the early season, these guys are by definition fresh, and moving one of them to DH leaves you with a position that will most likely be filled with a weaker hitter (not so dissimilar from having to put a weaker hitter at third base). Like, Morel DHing and Wisdom or Madrigal playing third vs Morel playing third, a normal outfield starter DHing and Tauchman playing the outfield, in the aggregate, is just Wisdom/Madrigal vs Tauchman. 

It's not Wisdom's bat vs Morel's bat. It's Wisdom's bat vs....anyone else on the bench's bat. And right now they're all about the same. 

But Morel at 3rd opens up the opportunity for a bat only guy. Maybe not this minute. Maybe not even this year. But  there is an incentive for them to find out if he can do it. This year alone, if they knew he could play the position they could go out and sign JDM or Belt. Next year if Cassie, Canario, Shaw or anyone else forced their way into the line up, the Cubs could have a spot for him. If Bellinger stays a second year and PCA comes up next year, they can fit them both in the line up along with Happ, Busch and Suzuki, if Morel plays 3rd. I am not saying it will happen. All I am saying is that is the incentive.