David Stearns is once again venturing into the realm of reclamation projects, aiming to unearth potential where others may not see it.
This time, Stearns, known for his penchant for identifying underperforming talent with the hope of rejuvenating their careers, has brought utility player Christopher Morel into the fold of the New York Mets organization. According to Jon Heyman of The Post, Morel signed a minor-league contract on Tuesday.
The terms of Morel’s deal offer multiple opt-out opportunities, underscoring the flexibility both sides are embracing. Morel will be beginning his journey with Triple-A Syracuse, eager to redefine his path in professional baseball.
At 27, Morel was recently cast off by the Miami Marlins, finding himself designated for assignment without having replicated the promise he showed earlier with the Chicago Cubs. Despite recent struggles, his early career numbers aren’t entirely forgotten.
During his tenure with the Cubs, Morel didn’t quite shine in batting average, maintaining a sub-.250 line, but demonstrated power by hitting 42 home runs and bringing in 117 RBIs over the 2022-23 seasons.
Despite inconsistencies, he was seen as an up-and-coming piece for a then-rebuilding Cubs team.
But the start of 2024 was a disaster for Morel, as he hit just .199 despite having 18 homers.
The Cubs then traded Morel to the Rays when they acquired Isaac Paredes, but Morel still couldn’t find his footing in over a year with the Rays.
Morel’s power output decreased compared to his stint with the Cubs, and he hit just .219 in 2025 before being designated for assignment after the season.
After becoming a free agent, Morel signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Marlins and played in 22 games for the team following an oblique injury.
He hit just .162 with one homer during his Marlins stint and was released June 26.
With opt-outs in his Mets contract, it appears Morel will likely be up in the major leagues soon or he’ll become a free agent again.
Morel has experience playing both infield and outfield throughout his career, but given that the Mets outfield is one of their lone bright spots currently, him playing in the infield seems more likely.
The Mets have lost nine of their last 10 games and are 35-50 as their season continues to unravel.