A reunion with this recently DFAd Cubs fan favorite would be a terrible idea

The Chicago Cubs received woeful production from their bench this season - and it's an area the team can definitely improve before camp opens in Arizona next spring.

There's next to no depth behind Matt Shaw, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner on the infield, so when Cubs fans saw that the Tampa Bay Rays had designated Christopher Morel for assignment, they immediately dusted off their graduation goggles and started talking about bringing the 26-year-old back into the fold.

I get that he's still young and he had some big moments early in his career as a member of the Cubs, but we're talking about a guy who, in part-time duty this season, punched out in a career-worst 35.7 percent of his trips to the plate. For the second straight year, he posted a sub-.300 OBP and was a negative-WAR player, appearing primarily as a left fielder and DH for the Rays.

Christopher Morel's issues haven't improved since Cubs traded him

There's a reason Jed Hoyer traded Morel to Tampa Bay in the first place in the deal that brought Isaac Paredes to Chicago (and, ultimately, helped land Kyle Tucker last offseason). The red flags became too much to overlook, and all signs indicated he was trending in the wrong direction. Morel has done nothing to prove otherwise, and relying on him as a key contributor in 2026 would be a major misstep.

That's not to say his career is over. But the Cubs don't need to automatically pivot back to what they know when faced with key roster needs - there are plenty of options out there to pair with top prospects like Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros, both of whom could take two of the open bench spots after proving all they can at Triple-A Iowa.

Cubs fans need to step back and take a moment. Just because a player who used to call Wrigley Field home becomes available does not mean he's a logical fit to return to the team. Positionally, sure, you could see the fit - but the holes that led to Hoyer jettisoning him two years ago are more evident than ever, and the front office would be foolish to overlook them in a reunion.