NY Mets offer lifeline to former Cubs slugger with huge upside

The New York Mets all but waved the white flag after a disastrous series against the Chicago Cubs last week, firing Carlos Mendoza and handing the managerial reins to Andy Green. The early returns on that swap of skippers hasn't been great, but this is a deeply flawed roster that is all but hurtling toward a last-place finish in the NL East.

And so, with the trade deadline roughly one month away, we've entered into the upside-play portion of the schedule. With a number of veterans sure to be dealt for prospects this summer, it will behoove the front office to add MLB-ready players who could audition for a longer-term spot on the roster.

Enter: Christopher Morel. The former Cubs star and recent Miami Marlins flameout hasn't been able to repeat his early career success lately (even failing to latch on with the development kings in Tampa Bay), but he brings a great deal of upside to a team sorely lacking in bright spots these days.

Christopher Morel is the low-risk, low-odds swing that the Mets should be taking frequently in the second half

There are obviously concerns with Morel's profile, though they're ones the Mets will be familiar with by now. He doesn't have a natural defensive home, and though he's played every single position on the diamond (besides catcher and pitcher) in his career, he's received harsh grades for his glove work. Versatile though he may be, Morel won't add any juice to the team's porous defense.

Likewise, the 27-year-old has made a bad habit of striking out quite frequently throughout his career, which hit a crescendo with the Marlins earlier this year. He punched out at an unfathomable 38.4% rate in Miami, which is noticeably worse than his career mark of 30.7%.

Obviously, a strikeout rate that high is cause for concern, which is why Morel hasn't been able to stick at the MLB level at any of his previous stops. The swings and misses are something you have to live with in order to access his power, which where upside enters the equation. He hit 42 home runs in his first 220 career games, including a 26-homer barrage in 2023 that led to a .508 slugging percentage. That's vaunted slugger territory, and also why he continues to get chances despite the aforementioned strikeout issue.

Are the Mets the team that's capable of helping him find that happy medium? Their recent track record suggests perhaps not, but this is a young player who has never had trouble finding the barrel of the bat or hitting the ball hard. If he simply makes enough contact to stay relevant at the plate, any and all defensive worries will subside.

In the midst of a lost season, this is the kind of low-risk, high-reward play the front office should be making as frequently as possible. The odds of this bet hitting are low, but if it does, the payout will be huge.

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