https://www.cubsinsider.com/2024/01/12/christopher-morel-not-attending-cubscon-speculation-ensues/
Literally no idea on the validity of the source in question, but Morel has been mentioned on the block a ton. Especially after the acquisition of Michael Busch and the rumored continued interest in a Berlinger reunion. The Cubbies have also been loosely linked to Jansen and needing BP help.
Jansen, Martin, Bleis and $16m to ChC
Morel to Boston
(Shows as an overpay by Boston, which makes me think ChC would consider it.)
They are set at LF, CF, RF long term (Happ, PCA, Suzuki) and Berllinger could DH and play any OF spot as well but mitigate time in the OF (like Springer).
Jansen and Martin immediately make their BP very good at the back end (with Alzolay). Bleis is there to off set the long term value and ostensibly be ish ready for when Happ and or Suzuki are done (3 and 4 years of control). Boston could also send either O’Neill or Refsnyder as either one makes a heck of a lot more sense on a contending team than in Boston - which looks very much like a non contender in 2024.
Morel isn’t great in RF, but he grades out like last year’s Duran out there (not atrocious). He also has plus speed and arm strength, which lead me to believe he could become slightly below average out there if he was given one spot and not used in a super utility role. Plus, he destroys the baseball.
Yoshida (L) - DH, Grissom (R) - 2b, Devers (L) - 3b, Story (R) - SS, Casas (L) - 1b, Morel (R) - RF, Abreu (L) - LF, Wong (R) - C, Duran / Raráela - CF. That’s a pretty nice line up for 2024-2027.
Frees up one of Duran / Rafaela to pair with Yorke and lets say Perales to get a mid / back of the rotation piece (Cabrera? Detmers?)
Bello, Gio, Detmers, Crawford, Pivetta (extended, hopefully)
Houck, Whitlock, Slaten, whatever else… (maybe even sign a Neris type).
Not bad, actually.
Literally no idea on the validity of the source in question, but Morel has been mentioned on the block a ton. Especially after the acquisition of Michael Busch and the rumored continued interest in a Berlinger reunion. The Cubbies have also been loosely linked to Jansen and needing BP help.
Jansen, Martin, Bleis and $16m to ChC
Morel to Boston
(Shows as an overpay by Boston, which makes me think ChC would consider it.)
They are set at LF, CF, RF long term (Happ, PCA, Suzuki) and Berllinger could DH and play any OF spot as well but mitigate time in the OF (like Springer).
Jansen and Martin immediately make their BP very good at the back end (with Alzolay). Bleis is there to off set the long term value and ostensibly be ish ready for when Happ and or Suzuki are done (3 and 4 years of control). Boston could also send either O’Neill or Refsnyder as either one makes a heck of a lot more sense on a contending team than in Boston - which looks very much like a non contender in 2024.
Morel isn’t great in RF, but he grades out like last year’s Duran out there (not atrocious). He also has plus speed and arm strength, which lead me to believe he could become slightly below average out there if he was given one spot and not used in a super utility role. Plus, he destroys the baseball.
Yoshida (L) - DH, Grissom (R) - 2b, Devers (L) - 3b, Story (R) - SS, Casas (L) - 1b, Morel (R) - RF, Abreu (L) - LF, Wong (R) - C, Duran / Raráela - CF. That’s a pretty nice line up for 2024-2027.
Frees up one of Duran / Rafaela to pair with Yorke and lets say Perales to get a mid / back of the rotation piece (Cabrera? Detmers?)
Bello, Gio, Detmers, Crawford, Pivetta (extended, hopefully)
Houck, Whitlock, Slaten, whatever else… (maybe even sign a Neris type).
Not bad, actually.