Where Does Christopher Morel Fit Long Term with the Chicago Cubs?
Christopher Morel got his chance at the big league level with the Chicago Cubs in mid-May of the 2022 MLB season. Since his arrival, the versatile Dominican has stuck at the level, mainly for his ability to play just about anywhere on the diamond, but also for the consistency of his bat.
Primarily playing centerfield and second base this season, Morel has also spent some time at shortstop. However, in his last eight starts, Morel has played third base with Patrick Wisdom on the injured list, a position he is not accustomed to.
However, his defensive performance at third likely spells that he won't remain there for long as his fielding percentage of .900 is one of the worst in all of baseball. In just 16 starts he has -4 DRS and -3 OAA. By the eye test or by analytics, Morel has not looked like a third baseman.
Yet, the tools he posses, especially his arm, bode well for success at the position, he just hasn't put it together.
Therefore, it would be safe to assume that should Morel continue to find playing time with the Cubs next season, it would likely be in the outfield. There he also has -3 OAA, but over a slightly larger sample size of 41 starts. His fielding-percentage of .977 is still one of the worst in baseball.
Chicago Cubs Utilityman Christopher Morel
Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
So, if Morel's defensive capabilities outside of his versatility won't allow him to stick, then his offensive consistency surely will, right? Well, after a scorching start to his MLB career, Morel has fallen off a cliff in terms of production.
In his last 101 at-bats dating back to Jul 24, Morel has just 18 hits, good enough for a .181 batting average. Of those 18 hits, four have been home runs, so the power is there, but the consistency he flashed at the beginning of the season isn't.
Much of his struggles at the plate can be attributed to his low contact rate of 62.8-percent. That is well below league average. Even though he isn't swinging outside the zone much, he just can't hit balls in the zone. It is a worrying issue that has seen his strikeout rate climb while his walk rate plummets.
Chicago wants to compete in 2023, that much is clear. There are plenty of bright spots on the roster. The front office has also indicated they are willing to spend this upcoming offseason, as the Cubs currently enter next season with just $91.5 million on the books, well below league average.
The only way Morel can stick is if he fixes the inconsistencies at the plate that have plagued him the last two months and figuring out his defensive woes. He has all the tools to be a successful Major League player on a contender, but he is a step short of putting it all together.
If that doesn't happen, the Morel will likely be relegated to a bench role, if any at all, his versatility being his saving grace.
Chicago will add plenty of players in the offseason, Morel needs to use that final games of his 2022 audition to prove he can be the contributor the Cubs saw in the first half of the season and not the liability he has become in the second half.
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