The Marlins signed Morel to a one-year contract Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Marlins plan to use Morel at first base, a position he has never played before. Given the team's lack of other options at first base, Morel should have a chance to be the regular there if he can prove to be adequate defensively. Morel flashed loads of promise earlier in his career, particularly in 2023 with the Cubs when he posted a .821 OPS with 26 home runs over only 429 plate appearances. He has just a .651 OPS since then and his strikeout rate spiked to 35.7 percent in 2025 with the Rays. Morel still makes loud contact when he connects (49.7 percent hard-hit rate, 14.8 percent barrel rate in 2025), and the Marlins will try to get him to cut down on the swing-and-miss. He will be arbitration-eligible in 2027 and 2028.

Morel was not tendered by the Rays on Friday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morel was designated for assignment by the Rays on Tuesday but theoretically could have stayed in the organization after clearing waivers. He's now a free agent and could have to settle for a minor-league deal after struggling across the last two seasons.

The Rays designated Morel for assignment Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morel played in 105 games for the Rays last season but was inconsistent at the plate with a .219/.289/.396 slash line and 35.7 percent strikeout rate in 105 plate appearances. The 26-year-old clubbed 26 homers with an .821 OPS for the Cubs in 2023 but posted a .651 OPS over the past two regular seasons.

Morel went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Morel had gone 0-for-9 with five strikeouts over three games since missing a couple of games due to an abdominal bruise. The utility man broke out of the slump by accounting for more than half of the Rays' run production. He opened the scoring with a two-run double in the first inning and added a two-run single in the eighth for insurance. This was just his fifth multi-RBI game of the year. Morel has a .223/.292/.401 slash line with 11 home runs, 31 RBI, 37 runs scored, seven stolen bases and 15 doubles across 102 games this season.

Morel (abdomen) will start in left field and bat cleanup Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morel is back in the starting nine for the first time since Sunday, when he exited the Rays' 4-3 loss to the Cubs early due to an abdominal contusion. He drew a walk in a pinch-hit appearance in Tuesday's 6-5 loss and will now check back into the lineup to make a rare start against a right-handed pitcher (Kevin Gausman).

Morel was removed from Sunday's loss to the Cubs due to an abdominal contusion, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Morel went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts prior to exiting the game halfway through the sixth inning. Righty Trey Yesavage will make his MLB debut for the Blue Jays on Monday, so Morel likely won't be in the starting nine regardless of the injury.

Morel went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-4 loss against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Morel gave Tampa Bay an early 3-0 lead with his first-inning homer, but the Rays were mostly quiet the rest of the afternoon. The 26-year-old sees most of his starts against left-handed pitching, and he's excelled in that platoon role since the beginning of August with a .288/.323/.525 slash line, though he also has a 46.8 percent strikeout rate during that stretch.

Morel went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored Thursday against the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Morel continues to start exclusively against left-handed pitchers while primarily hitting fifth. He's hit well in that limited role, collecting multiple hits in three of his last five starts, including four runs scored and two doubles.

Morel went 3-for-4 with a solo home run during Sunday's 7-2 win over St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

The performance marked Morel's fourth three-hit game of the campaign, and his first since June 7. Since July 31, Morel is 12-for-39 (.308) with three home runs and 20 strikeouts. He's slashing .222/.284/.409 on the season and has been relegated to a short-side platoon role.

Morel will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Rays appear to be viewing the right-handed-hitting Morel exclusively as a short-side platoon player; each of his last six starts have come against left-handed pitching. Even as a streaming option against lefties, Morel hasn't been providing much value, as he's slashed just .181/.245/.330 with three home runs in 102 plate appearances versus southpaws heading into Wednesday.