The Miami Marlins have secured a major league deal with infielder and outfielder Christopher Morel, as reported by Mike Rodriguez. According to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, the contract spans one year, with the potential for longer-term control through arbitration that extends beyond 2026. The financial details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed.
Morel is anticipated to primarily play first base for the Marlins, as noted by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. At 26 years old, Morel has made headlines for his impressive power-hitting capabilities but has also faced challenges with a high strikeout rate and a lack of stability in defensive positions. This combination has complicated his quest to establish himself as a consistent player at the major league level.
Originally regarded as a promising prospect, Morel showcased his versatility by playing a variety of positions, including shortstop and third base, as well as some time in the outfield and at second base. He made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2022, where he hit 16 home runs in 425 plate appearances. Despite this initial power display, he also struck out in an alarming 32.2% of those at-bats. In the subsequent 2023 season, he managed to hit another 26 home runs over just 429 plate appearances, though his strikeout rate remained high, slightly decreasing to 31%.
Defensively, Morel struggled to solidify his role; he was used in various positions, including shortstop, third base, and the outfield, where his defensive ratings were less than stellar. His performance at second base was relatively better, though opportunities were limited due to the presence of established players like Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson.
During the 2022 trade deadline, the Cubs traded Morel to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a larger deal that included Isaac Paredes. However, the trade did not yield the desired results for the Rays, who later traded Paredes to the Houston Astros in a deal involving Kyle Tucker. Following the trade, Morel accumulated 495 plate appearances with the Rays, striking out in one-third of those attempts (165 times), while hitting just 14 home runs and posting a disappointing .208/.277/.355 batting line, which equated to a weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) of 78—indicating he performed 22% worse than the average major league hitter. Most of his time with the Rays was spent in left field, where he received unfavorable defensive evaluations.
By the end of 2025, Morel surpassed three years of service time, qualifying for arbitration for the first time. Projections by MLB Trade Rumors contributor Matt Swartz suggested his salary could be around $2.6 million for the upcoming season. However, the Rays opted to non-tender him, allowing him to enter free agency.
As Morel joins the Marlins, there is anticipation regarding how his powerful batting and potential will be harnessed, as well as the challenge of improving his defensive consistency on the field. More developments regarding his future with Miami are expected to unfold in the near future.
