IT’S A DONE DEAL: Christopher Morel announces his leaving after the match due to his….
The Chicago Cubs have given third baseman Christopher Morel ample opportunities to secure the position full-time. Although Morel demonstrates impressive hitting capabilities when he’s in peak form, his defensive challenges remain evident.
Despite occasional struggles at the plate this season, Morel has managed to hit 12 home runs. His current slash line of .205/.316/.400 has room for improvement, but if he can deliver 25 or more home runs in a season, it could offset his defensive shortcomings.
Recently, Morel committed a significant error in a game against the Chicago White Sox, resulting in four runs. Although the Cubs won, the game would have been smoother if the Dominican Republic native had made the play.
Manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the team is exploring other options for third base. While replacing Morel for defensive reasons is understandable, there isn’t a clear replacement candidate.
Matt Shaw, drafted last year from the University of Maryland, might be a future option, but it’s likely too early to bring him up. Patrick Wisdom has third base experience, and as reported by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, the team has considered moving Michael Busch to the position.
“We’ve discussed a lot,” Counsell stated, “but at this point, we’re probably not going to go that direction.”
Given the circumstances, Morel is likely to remain the primary third baseman. Counsell expressed mixed feelings about Morel’s performance:
“With Christopher, in areas, there’s been some progress. And then we’ve taken steps back on some days, for sure. As we get a bigger sample here, we’ve got to evaluate that, absolutely.”
One viable solution might be to upgrade the position through a trade. If someone like Alex Bregman becomes available, it could be a key move.
As the trade deadline approaches, the front office has several areas needing improvement. To field the best team every night, they must be prepared to make necessary moves.
