On Thursday, the Chicago White Sox named Brent Morel their starting third baseman. While it seems as if Morel beat out Mark Teahen based on their spring training performances, the job may have been decided much sooner.

“The whole idea that it was a competition for third base was a big sham,” Joe Cowley, of the Chicago Sun-Times, said on the Mully and Hanley Show. “It was never a competition. It was won when Morel showed up in January, down at ‘Camp Cora.’ That basically showed them that this thing is done. Unless he was kidnapped or died during spring training, Morel was going to win the third base job. Obviously they had to put some crumbs out there for Teahen to feel like there is some kind of competition, but it was never his to win.”

LISTEN: Joe Cowley On The Mully And Hanley Show

Morel was more than likely given the job based on his defensive ability, not what he can do at the plate.

“They don’t have strike out pitchers…they need guys [on defense] who can catch it,” Cowley said. “First and foremost, the thing they like about Morel is his glove. The offense, I think he’s going to have something to prove…Is [Morel] special? That might be putting it a little strong right now. Does he have a chance to be? I’ll agree with that, but he still has a long way to go.”