First baseman Christopher Morel‘s stint in the Marlins organization is over. After getting outrighted to Triple-A, Morel was released from the Jacksonville roster. Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst was the first to report the move. Morel was designated for assignment last weekend when Griffin Conine returned to the big-league squad.
None of the other 29 teams took a shot on Morel during the waiver process, which wasn’t surprising considering they’d be on the hook for what’s left of his $2MM salary. Now that he’s been released, another club could sign him for the league minimum, which would be subtracted from Miami’s remaining tab.
Morel slashed .162/.219/.206 with an untenable 38.4% strikeout rate in 22 games with the Marlins. While he typically punches out at a well-above-average rate, it usually comes with solid power, but he failed to homer in 73 plate appearances. He chased pitches outside of the strike zone at a career-worst 36.2% clip and compiled a brutal 33.9% called + swinging strike rate.
A versatile yet underwhelming defender, Morel hadn’t played first base as a big leaguer heading into the year. He played 14 games at the position with Miami and was a slightly positive contributor by Defensive Runs Saved. Morel has been subpar with the glove at virtually every other spot, so perhaps he’s found a home at first base.
After breaking in with the Cubs, Morel was traded to the Rays midway through the 2024 season. He’s struggled to produce consistent results at the plate since getting dealt from Chicago. Morel is still just 27 years old, so he could receive some interest from other teams as a low-risk addition. He’s only two years removed from a 21-homer campaign.
Photo courtesy of Jim Rassol, Imagn Images
