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1:28pm: The Marlins have officially announced the deal.
12:27pm: According to a report from Aram Leighton of Just Baseball, the Marlins are acquiring first baseman Matt Mervis from the Cubs. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that infielder Vidal Bruján is heading to Chicago in exchange for Mervis. The Cubs are also sending cash along with Mervis to Miami.
Mervis, 26, signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent in 2020. After a tough start in 2021, he had a standout season in the minors in 2022, hitting .309/.379/.606 with 40 doubles and 36 homers in 137 games across three levels. He impressed at Triple-A as well, with a .297/.383/.593 line in 57 games. Mervis was even considered a top-100 prospect during the offseason. However, his MLB debut in 2023 didn’t go as planned, with a .167/.242/.289 line in 99 plate appearances.
Despite his struggles, the Cubs traded for Michael Busch, leaving Mervis without a spot. He only appeared in nine games and struggled at the plate. With the Marlins, he will have a chance to compete for playing time at first base. Brujan, on the other hand, was DFA’d by the Marlins after a disappointing season.
Brujan, once a top prospect, failed to perform well at the big league level with both the Rays and the Marlins. He struggled offensively but provided value with his versatility in the field. Now, he will have a chance to fight for a bench spot with the Cubs in spring training.
Chicago has revamped their bench options, and Brujan will be competing with a few others for a spot on the roster. With the catching position settled, Brujan will need to impress to secure a place on the team for the upcoming season.
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