NEWSLETTER
It sounds like Alexander Canario could have a friend on his Dominican Winter League team very soon.
Christopher Morel is reportedly set to join Águilas Cibaeñas at some point during the DWL season, and could play upwards of a month there, per Morel himself (and via Héctor Gómez):
Christopher Morel, 24, is from Santiago, Dominican Republic, and played for Águilas in 2021-22. I am sure it’s always pretty special to be able to play for the hometown team.
I know what you’re thinking and it’s exactly what I was thinking immediately, too: PLEASE LET HIM PLAY THIRD BASE EVERY DAY.
The Chicago Cubs don’t yet have a set plan for third base for 2024, but if they had to stay internal, the absolute BEST case scenario would be Christopher Morel getting this throws down pat at third base this offseason and then settling in as the almost-everyday starter.
Through his first 220 big league games – at ages 22-24, with a completely atypical and challenging development trajectory – Morel is a .241/.311/.471/114 wRC+ hitter. Even if you didn’t believe he had more upside from there (which he totally does), that’d play perfectly well at third base. Just gotta get the glove-work down. The physical talent is there to play the position. We know that much.
If the Cubs could make it work with Morel at third base, it opens up DH for them to maneuver the addition of another bat, and it also takes away a spot from their worry list. So if Morel can get in a months’ worth of reps at third base in the DWL, that’d be a dream scenario.
BUT. You have to remember that the winter leagues aren’t just practice ball for prospects and big leaguers. These are the actual, competitive, championship leagues in each of these countries, and the games are taken very seriously. They are played to win, regardless of what’s best for some other organization or for a player’s development. So, while the Cubs (and Morel) might strongly suggest giving him run at third base, if that’s not what is best for Águilas, then they won’t do it.
If the translation here is accurate, Morel has permission from the Cubs to play in the league (starting mid to late-November), with no positional restrictions:
In other words, Christopher Morel won’t be exclusively playing third base, unless that’s what Águilas wants.
So far, Águilas has been starting Orioles prospect Cesar Prieto and former Cub Starlin Castro at third base. Like Morel, both guys can play elsewhere, though, so it’s possible there will be at least SOME starts available for Morel at third. Fingers crossed.
