Are Cubs open to Morel filling hole at third base?
With Cody Bellinger back on a contract that could max out at three years and $80 million, the Cubs' regular lineup is just about set.
Like last season, Bellinger should get the bulk of his playing time in center field. When needed, he can also play first base.
Ian Happ (left) and Seiya Suzuki (right) flank Bellinger in the outfield, Nico Hoerner is set at second base, ditto for Dansby Swanson at shortstop. Still going strong at age 36, Yan Gomes is back at catcher.
Newcomer Michael Busch looks like the starting first baseman at this point. He could stick if his left-handed bat comes remotely close to matching last season's production (.323/.431/.618, 27 HR, 90 RBI) at Class AAA Oklahoma City in the Dodgers' system.
Third base is the Cubs' biggest question mark with the regular season starting in just over three weeks with a March 28 game at Texas.
When asked Monday on MLB Network Radio about what's happening at third base, manager Craig Counsell said the job is “not going to be solved in spring training.”
Last season, Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom and Miles Mastrobuoni shared time at third until Jeimer Candelario came over from the Nationals in a July 31 trade.
Candelario, who also played for the Cubs in 2016-17, hit the free-agent market at season's end and signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Reds.
Madrigal, Wisdom and Mastrobuoni remain in the mix at third base, but Christopher Morel has moved to the top of the depth chart.
Trying to find a defensive home for the power-hitting Morel remains a challenge for the Cubs.
Last year, Morel played everywhere on the field except catcher and first base. He also made 59 starts at designated hitter.
In 2022, his rookie season, Morel was again a man of multiple positions.
He played some first base during winter ball in his native Dominican Republic after the '23 season, but Morel is being prepped to play third base in spring training.
“My idea is to focus mainly at third base,” Counsell told reporters in Mesa, Ariz. “Let’s see where we’re at, let’s evaluate that as we go. But let’s give him a chance at third base and give him some consistency at third base. To say he can play a lot of positions, yes. But it is harder to play multiple positions, no question about it.”
No matter where he plays, Morel is likely going to be a defensive liability. But his bat covers up a lot of mistakes.
In 220 career games with the Cubs, the 24-year-old Morel has 42 home runs and 117 RBI while hitting .241/.311/.471. He's also struck out 270 times in 854 plate appearances.
“Christopher’s done so much with the bat,” Counsell said. “It’s our job to figure out the best way to deploy it.”
Morel is still an obvious DH candidate and that's why Madrigal, Wisdom and Mastrobuoni are notable options at third base.
At this point next spring, Matt Shaw could be pushing for the starting job at third.
A shortstop at Maryland before the Cubs drafted him in the first round (No. 13 overall) last summer, Shaw prepared himself to play third base over the winter and he's getting a look at the position in spring training.
Baseball America has Shaw at No. 31 on its Top 100 prospects list.