This young Chicago Cubs star is worth the Phillies’ trade consideration.
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Even without Kyle Schwarber, who is probably going to stay the team’s starting designated hitter, the Phillies have more than enough talent in the outfield thanks to Nick Castellanos, Jake Cave, Brandon Marsh, Cristian Pache, Johan Rojas, and others. However, that doesn’t mean you give up on finding talent or improving, particularly if there is a team out there that has a gifted athlete but isn’t really home.
Let’s introduce Christopher Morel. Despite his impressive raw power he hit 26 home runs in 429 plate appearances last season the Chicago Cubs outfielder, who is just two years into his MLB career, does not yet hold a permanent role with the team.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs’ top prospect, plays center field, where he is most effective. Second base, where Nico Hoerner will always remain, is his ideal infield position.
Playing him at first base during Spring Training is a possibility the Cubs are considering. But it’s also said that they’re considering a trade for Pete Alonso, the first baseman for the New York Mets. Morel played more DH than field last season.
Morel is said to be included in the trade if the Cubs go in that manner. It is the power that makes you bargain for Morel. He has hit 42 home runs in two Major League seasons. If he could cut down on strikeouts, he could be a player who hits thirty home runs.
However, as of right now, the Phillies do not have the space. Morel is under team control until 2029, so the Phillies shouldn’t rip up the offseason playbook to get him. However, it’s something to think about if these two things occur.
The first step would be for the Phillies to move Castellanos, which has been tipped as a possible trade. The Phillies may be trying to offload him despite the fact that he is a fan favorite; his deal is worth $60 million over the next three years. If the Phillies are worried about aging becoming a factor, they might want to get ahead of the curve as he approaches his 32nd season.
Last season, Castellanos hit 29 home runs. He doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all.A move for Morel isn’t necessary if the Phillies don’t trade Castellanos. However, there is another requirement that must be met if the Phillies decide to sell him: they must lose confidence in Rojas’ ability to improve.
With 149 at-bats, the rookie center fielder batted.302, making it a strong debut for Philly. He also supplied the Phillies with excellent defense. In the event that there are issues, they are fixable. Just five walks were recorded by him, and he struck out about 25% of the time. He only hit two home runs, so he doesn’t really add much pop either.
He also batted horribly in the postseason.093 in 43 batted balls. That’s a worrisome output deficit for a guy who participated in every match.Rojas was a rookie now. It was not impossible for them to take a step back in the postseason. However, he started to strike out more often and walk less frequently.
Either Rojas’ postseason performance caused the Phillies to overreact, or they would have to perceive something in his makeup that makes them think he doesn’t have a long-term future in Philly. Should those two events transpire, Morel’s power, glove, and team control make him a desirable low-level trade candidate for the Phillies.