KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the bottom of the third inning Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, word started to spread through the Chicago Cubs dugout that Christopher Morel was being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Cubs were on their way to a 7-3 win over the Royals, but the third baseman/designated hitter was making his way around the group, hugging teammates and coaches, fighting back tears while still wearing his trademark smile.
“It’s always a little bit strange telling someone during the game that they’ve been traded,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It was certainly surprising and shocking to Chris. He’s provided Cubs fans with a lot of memories, for sure, even in his short time here.”
Christopher Morel says his goodbyes in the Cubs dugout 🥹 pic.twitter.com/4v6GSxxLYp
— MLB (@MLB) July 28, 2024
Morel and two pitching prospects were sent to the Rays for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes. It was a pretty shocking move, considering the Cubs were largely viewed as sellers this deadline. But the trade makes sense for a team looking to compete in 2025 and beyond and is an immediate upgrade.
Morel was struggling through a disappointing season for the Cubs. After posting a strong 119 wRC+ in 2023, it seemed like he was primed for a breakout and it appeared to be happening in the first two months of the season. His walks were up and strikeouts were down, but the pure results weren’t always there. He was hitting the ball hard but wasn’t always finding the grass.
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It all led to a 93 wRC+ with expected stats that suggested someone who should be 30 or more points higher. As the lack of results mounted, it seemed to wear on Morel as the strikeouts started to rise, the hard contact dipped and a general lack of production continued.
“He kind of got off to some tough luck to start the season and could just never get on track,” Counsell said.
Ian Happ is keenly aware of advanced metrics. When things haven’t gone well for him, he’s often tried to stick to his game plan because he knows that sometimes results don’t tell the whole story. He also knows that can be easier said than done.
“I can’t speak for him, but I know it’s challenging,” Happ said. “You’re hitting the ball hard and you’re not getting the results. You look up at the stat line and it is what it is at this point in the season. Those things are tough especially when you’re hitting the ball hard and think you’re doing the right things. There’s not much to change when you’re smoking the ball. I’m proud of the way he continued to show up every day and work hard.”
GO DEEPERMLB Trade Grades: Did Rays get enough for All-Star Isaac Paredes in trade with Cubs?That he didn’t fully live up to his potential with the Cubs will always frustrate some. The Rays have a knack for maximizing unique talents like Morel. But what Morel will truly be remembered for in Chicago is his personality. His smile was hard to miss and his energy was contagious.
Teammates seemed to love being around Morel and fed off his energy. When he was clicking at the plate, he could hit some of the hardest and most majestic home runs in the game. When he stepped to the plate, there was always a chance he could turn a game around. He wore his emotions on his sleeve and it was hard to ignore how much passion he played with.
“Morel’s an awesome teammate and super-talented player,” Happ said. “He loves the game; I think everyone can see that with the way he plays. It was a pleasure to be with him. We wish him nothing but the best. I think he’s going to get a real opportunity there and he’s going to be a really good player for a long time.”
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By adding Paredes, the Cubs have locked down third base, a spot Morel was struggling to find consistency at defensively, and have a player who has slugged a combined 67 home runs since the start of the 2022 season. Their infield seems set for the next few years and they have less work to do this winter when trying to build a real contender for 2025.
But losing Morel stings. His potential seemed limitless, but more importantly, his personality was infectious. Even if it didn’t coincide with many wins, his time in Chicago will likely be remembered fondly by teammates and fans who couldn’t help but be impacted by his positive nature.
“He has an outlook and demeanor that makes it fun to be around him,” Counsell said. “He loves playing. That joy, that’s just his outlook on life. It’s present no matter what’s going on. No matter how he’s playing, no matter how the team’s playing. It’s indicated by how he treats people. He’s an example for all of us in that regard.”
(Photo: Jamie Sabau / Getty Images)
Sahadev Sharma is a staff writer for The Athletic and covers the Chicago Cubs. Previously, Sahadev was a national baseball writer for Baseball Prospectus and ESPN Chicago. Follow Sahadev on Twitter @sahadevsharma
