MLB Insider: Cubs Have 'Evaluated Alternatives' to Christopher Morel at Third Base

As the Chicago Cubs seek ways to escape the muddled mediocre pack of teams in the middle of the National League, third baseman Christopher Morel's spot in the lineup is in a state of flux.

Per The Athletic's Patrick Mooney, the Cubs have "evaluated alternatives" to the 24-year-old and are open to the possibility of a prospect like Matt Shaw eventually taking over.

The primary issue for Morel has been his defense at the hot corner. His minus-eight defensive runs saved are the fourth-most among all qualified players at any position this season.

Per BaseballSavant.com, he ranks in the first percentile in outs above average in 393 innings at third base.

It doesn't help that Morel's offensive production has dipped so far. He entered this season expected to be a cornerstone in the middle of the lineup after hitting 26 homers and slugging .508 in 107 games during the 2023 campaign.

Even though consistent contact has never been a hallmark of his game, he proved last year that he was capable of hitting enough to make an impact.

So far this season, Morel has shown better plate discipline by increasing his walk rate by more than four points (8.4 percent to 12.6 percent) and decreasing his strikeout rate by more than nine points (31.0 percent to 21.9 percent) from 2023 to 2024.

But it seems as if some of that success has come at the expense of what made Morel's future so exciting. He leads the Cubs with 12 homers, though he's only slugging .388.

Power has been an issue for the Cubs this season. Seiya Suzuki is their only regular slugging over .450, with Michael Busch and Cody Bellinger the only other regulars with a slugging percentage above .400.

Shaw is the No. 3 prospect in the Cubs' system, per MLB.com. The 2023 first-round draft pick is hitting .225/.345/.366 with six homers and 15 stolen bases in 54 games at Double-A.

The Cubs could also explore trade options, but it's unusual to see any significant deals that might impact the pennant race happen this far away from the deadline

Chicago (32-34) is tied with the Cincinnati Reds for second place in the NL Central, but it only trails the San Francisco Giants by one game in the loss column for the final wild-card spot.