Chicago Cubs Rumors: Examining shocking Christopher Morel trade idea

One of the biggest decisions the Chicago Cubs had to make this past offseason was what to do with Christopher Morel.

Morel was name speculated in trade rumors last winter with Jed Hoyer notably airing out his grievances with USA Today's Bob Nightengale at the Winter Meetings last December. Nightengale speculated that the Cubs were involving Morel in trade discussions, notably with the Tampa Bay Rays regarding a potential deal for starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow.

Hoyer's dressing down of Nightengale was a sign of the high impression that the Cubs' front office had on Morel entering the 2024 season. Along those lines, Morel's failure to show offensive development this season is one of the main reasons why the Cubs are selling at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.

The Cubs are at a crossroads with Morel. This season has proved that Morel can't be the everyday third baseman and the failure of Morel to make offensive adjustments should serve as caution for the Cubs planning on him being the team's designated hitter in the future.

Despite question marks that surround Morel, teams are calling the Cubs with interest according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Christopher Morel's long-term future with the Cubs may be in question.

There is a distinct difference between teams calling the Cubs with interest in trading for Morel and the Cubs being open to moving Morel. Having said that, the idea of moving Morel is something that does have to be entertained.

With Matt Shaw and Cam Smith being added the organization over the course of the past year and it looking more and more likely that Nico Hoerner will not be moved, Morel may not have a future position on the Cubs. If his bat continues to be inconsistent, to say the least, the Cubs won't be able to depend on future expectations for much longer.

Though, now may not be the time that the Cubs should be moving Morel. Given the struggles that Morel has had this season, the Cubs would be selling low on a player they were quick to defend at the start of the season. Short of there being a team out there that is as high on Morel as the Cubs were at the beginning of the season, a deadline deal involving the young third baseman does not seem all that likely.