Making sense of Miami Marlins adding Christopher Morel

Stop the presses- the Miami Marlins just signed a free agent to an MLB contract.

Technically, that does qualify as the change from business as normal that the Marlins front office seemed to promise would be coming this offseason. The past couple seasons have seen seen Miami be just about the last, if not the last, team to sign a free agent to an MLB deal. So, doing that before Christmas, before the calendar even turns to 2026? Big deal!

Now, that's not to say that the Marlins decision to sign Christopher Morel to a one-year deal was all about ending an unpopular narrative with the fanbase. That would be unfair. Shortsighted on our part. After all...Morel played for Tampa last season! So it actually continues that Marlins-Rays pipeline/blueprint narrative really nicely. One talking point ends, another continues.

Anyway, just what are the Marlins getting out of the twenty-six year old outfielder? Why do this when they would seem to have plenty of needs elsewhere on the roster?

For starters, he's not just an outfielder. That is the position he's appeared the most at in the major leagues (164 appearances), with the not a position at all role of designated hitter coming in at a distant second (124 appearances). However, he has spent at least some MLB time at every position except for first base and catcher.

Naturally then, early reporting has the Marlins planning to use him primarily at first base.

If Morel's done that before, it was prior to 2017. The generous spin here is that given his ability to handle multiple positions, one more should be asy to pick up. Perhaps letting him focus on one will help him step up his overall production. Once a highly regarded prospect, the Marlins are now his third team since the start of 2024. The 2025 campaign was a -0.3 WAR effort from him, with 11 HRs and a .219/.289/.396 slash line. Admittedly, that's better than a lot of what Miami saw at first base in 2025, but a far cry from what fans were hoping to see injected into the lineup this offseason.

Again though, there is bounceback potential here. That can't be dismissed, and this is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-reward signing that an organization like the Miami Marlins should make one or two of every season. If that's all this is, then full kudos to Peter Bendix and the front office.

Personally, I'll admit to being skeptical that anything much comes of this news unless we find out over the next month that Morel is best friends with former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks. Still, never a problem with a good low-risk, high-reward move.

Where it becomes a problem is if this is...it for offseason additions. The reports that Morel is expected to play first base, something that I think has been said of half the Marlins roster this offseason, is the concerning part. Especially when paired with the fact Miami only committed to one year- something that was announced this week was a bit of a frustrating priority for the Marlins in free agency. If this was just a case of Morel being the best player willing to settle for only a one year offer, that would certainly temper any excitement that should accompany this move.

That being said, Morel is a right-handed bat that has primarily played the outfield, and spent most of 2024 at third base. That does position him to actually be a solution to some of those more pressing lineup concerns of the Marlins, particularly if someone is moved in a trade. Additionally, as FishonFirst was quick to report, Morel is actually arbitration eligible for two more years after this one. Meaning this could be a pretty cheap three-year deal if this works out, but only a one-year slap on the wrist financially in the event that it doesn't.

Ultimately, it's a fine first step into free agency for the Fish this offseason. It had just better not be the only step.