Cubs remain committed to using Christopher Morel at 3rd base for now, but it's a 'constant conversation'

Christopher Morel is going to get the chance to stake his claim to the Cubs’ third base job, but Carter Hawkins made clear the 24-year-old doesn’t have infinite runway to prove himself.

Morel’s offensive ability is tantalizing, which is why Chicago is insistent on finding a spot for him defensively. The latest experiment has been putting Morel at third base, which has proven to be an adventure so far.

Morel has spent most of his time in the majors in the outfield or at second base, but he did enter 2024 with 23 games of big league third base experience. The position also was an area of need for the Cubs last season, which they addressed with their trade deadline move for Jeimer Candelario, but he joined the Reds in free agency.

It would be ideal for the Cubs to be able to trust Morel at third, but he’s done little so far to inspire optimism of a future at the hot corner. He’s getting the start at third for Monday’s home opener, which will mark the third time in the first four games he’ll get the nod there.

Before the game, Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins told Bernstein & Holmes how they view Morel’s opportunity at third.

“It’s a constant conversation, it’s a constant calibration with us and with Chris," Hawkins said. "To the extent that we’re seeing progress, to the extent that we think that that’s going to help us win the most games over the course of the season, we’re going to continue to press forward on it. If ever that changes, we’ll have to make a different decision, but as of right now we're getting him the reps and trying to see the progress so that we can be the best version of ourselves. When Chris is at third is probably the best version of the Cubs we can find -- if he’s playing great defense.

“It’s just a constant conversation. It’s not something we’re going to set it and forget it. It’s something that we’re going to be talking about throughout the year. If he continues to put the work in, it'll give him a shot to make the progress he needs, and we’re confident he’ll be doing that, for sure.”

If Morel can’t establish himself as a long-term option at third, then Nick Madrigal is likely next in line for the role.