Beloved former Cub is once again proving Jed Hoyer right that it was time to move on

Arguably, the most polarizing trade Jed Hoyer has made since the Cubs shifted from rebuilding to contending was trading Christopher Morel as part of a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes. Morel was a fan favorite in Chicago, and some thought Hoyer was quick to give up on the raw power that has always been evident in his swing profile.

One of the driving forces of the trade was that Hoyer was eager to add a different look to the Cubs' starting lineup, and Paredes certainly checked that box. Not to mention, it appeared that Morel hit a wall in his development.

Through 421 plate appearances with the Cubs in 2024, Morel slashed .199/.302/.373 with a wRC+ of 91 and 18 home runs. Morel, by that point, was a boom-or-bust offensive player for the Cubs. While he had defensive versatility, he graded as a below-average fielder regardless of the position he was at.

The fact that it was the Rays taking on Morel, though, suggested that perhaps the Cubs are missing something with Morel.

The Rays model thrives on accurate player development, and if they identified Morel as a target, they were going to get the benefit of the doubt. Instead, it was validation that Hoyer made the right decision. Morel posted a 59 wRC+ with the Rays to close out the 2024 season, and while that mark jumped to 90 last season, he was striking out over 35% of the time.

Jed Hoyer got this one right

Morel was non-tendered by the Rays during the offseason and has since latched on with the Miami Marlins. The results aren't getting any better. Through his first 34 plate appearances this season, Morel is slashing .161/.235/.161 with a wRC+ of 17. He hasn't solved his strikeout problem, striking out in 13 of those plate appearances.

Cubs fans are quick to point out the ones that got away under Hoyer's watch, but in this case, it seems like the Cubs were smart to give up on Morel when they did. For some decisions, there's a need to remove emotion from the discussion. Morel's run with the Cubs was electric, but by the end, it left much to be desired.

Of course, Paredes' run with the Cubs was short, but it had purposes, considering he was involved in the trade for Kyle Tucker. Sure, moving on from Tucker was the right decision for the Cubs, but he was a large part of the reason why they returned to the playoffs last year.

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