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The Cubs are one in all many golf equipment to have recognized curiosity in Rays’ right-hander Tyler Glasnow and Bob Nightengale of USA Today experiences at present that Christopher Morel’s identify has surfaced in these talks.
It’s unclear which membership determined to make Morel a part of the negotiations nevertheless it was reported final month that the Cubs have been keen to make Morel a part of the return in a possible Pete Alonso commerce. Maybe Morel has been squeezed out of the plan in Wrigley and the membership is procuring him round to see what he might usher in return.
The tough factor with Morel is that he has large energy in his bat however doesn’t have an ideal spot to suit onto the Cubs’ roster. He’s hit 42 house runs in his first 854 plate appearances, regardless of a 31.6% strikeout charge. His .241/.311/.471 batting line to date interprets to a wRC+ of 114. However makes an attempt to have him line up defensively at shortstop, third base or the outfield haven’t gone effectively. His work at second base is satisfactory however the Cubs have a set center infield of Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.
It was reported a couple of month in the past that the Cubs would get Morel some first base reps in winter ball, although that wouldn’t be a really perfect match for him both since he has 99th percentile arm power. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned at the moment that “one other crew may be capable of put him” at second base.
It appears as if the Cubs could really feel as if the very best use of the expertise on their roster is to discover trades for Morel and maybe deal with first base in another manner. He nonetheless has 5 years of membership management remaining and hasn’t but reached arbitration, which ought to give him loads of enchantment. It was reported earlier at present that the membership is discussing varied contract constructions with first baseman Rhys Hoskins. If they’ll get one thing achieved there and in addition flip Morel for some pitching assist, maybe that may be a preferable path to paying for pitching and utilizing Morel at first base.
That may naturally rely upon how the talks proceed and whether or not the Rays need Morel to be the middle of any Glasnow return. The Rays have a strong second baseman in Brandon Lowe. He has missed a while resulting from accidents prior to now two seasons however has nonetheless been capable of hit at an above-average charge. He’s additionally managed at an inexpensive charge by way of 2024 with a few cheap membership choices after that. The membership additionally has Isaac Paredes and Jonathan Aranda as guys on the roster able to enjoying second.
Buying Morel might be not the primary selection for the Rays, given their incumbent infield choices. Although they’re contemplating shifting Glasnow and his $25MM wage, they’ve apparent rotation wants and can want to consider bringing in cheaper pitching within the occasion they pull the set off on a commerce. With every of Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs set to overlook most or all the 2024 season resulting from elbow surgical procedures, the rotation isn’t in nice form. They nonetheless have Glasnow, Zach Eflin and Aaron Civale however some query marks past that. However Glasnow’s wage and perpetual payroll issues in Tampa may cause them to attempt to stability saving cash whereas nonetheless working out a proficient roster.
The Rays are usually unafraid to make offers and will maybe additionally flip Lowe for pitching along with buying Morel in a Glasnow deal, although that might require additional conversations with different golf equipment and it is perhaps simpler if they only have a suggestion that entails a youthful pitcher coming to them immediately in a Glasnow deal. It’s additionally doable that the Cubs and Rays mentioned bigger commerce situations involving extra than simply Glasnow and Morel, as golf equipment usually think about every kind of believable situations right now of yr.
The Rays have additionally obtained curiosity from golf equipment such because the Cardinals and Reds whereas there are additionally loads of different speculative matches. A few of these golf equipment could also be pursuing massive free brokers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery and should pivot to the commerce market if they arrive up brief there. Maybe the Rays will wait to see if they’ll get just a few extra golf equipment on the road after the free agent market strikes a bit extra, however they may additionally strike shortly in the event that they discover a deal that they honestly like.
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