MESA, Ariz. – Cody Bellinger or Matt Chapman? The Chicago Cubs are keeping both free agents on their radar, league sources said, waiting to see what Scott Boras does and whether a deal falls within their reach. For Jed Hoyer's group, it seems more about negotiating the right deal than deciding between a former MVP and a Gold Glove third baseman. Uncertainty is an ongoing theme surrounding the Sloan Park training complex. In the clubhouse there is curiosity about what it will take to break through the traffic jam. Play the standard spring training question: Who will start on Opening Day? – A reporter jokingly asked new Cubs manager Craig Counsell to name his favorite Boras customer.
Speaking like someone who works in the front office, Counsell highlights the overall health of the organization and the untapped value of young talent. With his outgoing nature and problem-solving skills, Counsell will change his thinking and adapt to the moment. This isn't necessarily about applying pressure, as the Cubs are monitoring the situation more than aggressively pursuing Chapman. But Counsell's updated plan to play Christopher Morel at third base is intriguing.
“Christopher has done so much with the bat that it's our job to figure out how to best use it,” Counsell said Saturday. “My idea going into camp is to focus primarily on third base. Let's see where we stand. Let's evaluate this as we move forward. But let's give him a chance at third base. Let’s give him some consistency at third base and see where we are roster-wise at some point in camp and go from there.”
Morel will be at the first training session with the full team on Monday, which was not guaranteed at the end of last season and the start of trade speculation. Morel's most natural position would probably be second base, where Nico Hoerner has become a Gold Glove defenseman and one of the team's most valuable players. The Cubs' two main corner outfielders, Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ, are each under contract through 2026 and will make around $20 million per season. Former manager David Ross – who always worked closely with his coaching staff and front office – thought it unlikely that Morel would remain as an everyday third baseman.
Nico Hoerner won his first Gold Glove in 2023 for his work at second base. (David Banks/USA Today)
When the offseason began, the Cubs decided not to trade the 24-year-old Morel for a rental player. After starting with Triple-A Iowa last season, Morel electrified the team by hitting 26 home runs in 107 games. Morel's .821 OPS represented an 80 percentage point improvement over his rookie season. It should also be noted that it was helpful when Ross Morel was given some time off the bench midseason to observe and breathe. At the Cubs convention last month, Hoyer described some of the trade rumors as “ridiculous” and “an alternate universe.”
“Players being asked about, that’s a good thing,” Counsell said. “They’re good players so there’s nothing wrong with that. I look at it as a young player who had a lot of offensive success at a young age. We have to figure it out positionally. We don't have to decide today. But hopefully we get a definition of what we want from him defensively because there’s too much offense to ignore.”
To recap: The Cubs wanted Morel to work at first base while he played winter ball in the Dominican Republic and even hired coaches to help with the project. But the Cubs don't control Águilas Cibaeñas' lineup, so Morel didn't get any reps at first base. From the winter meetings to the Cubs convention, team officials emphasized the value of Morel's versatility. For example, when Rhys Hoskins signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, it didn't dramatically change the offseason trajectory since the Cubs had already used Michael Busch as their primary first baseman and Morel as their primary right-handed DH.
This is more than just a message to Boras, it seems like Counsell is bringing all of his experience in player development and roster management to the table. After so many years in Milwaukee, Counsell can take a fresh look at Morel, who has been in the Cubs organization since he was a teenager. Morel missed a minor league season in 2020 and made his major league debut after a minimal amount of Triple-A at-bats. With Morel at third base, it seems like the Cubs haven't exhausted that opportunity yet.
“I’m really excited about the offensive potential and I know he’s still a young player defensively,” Counsell said. “It’s work that we have to put in and see where that work takes us.”
(Top photo: Benny Sieu / USA Today)