Marlins acquire 1B Matt Mervis from Cubs for infielder Vidal Bruján
The Miami Marlins have acquired first baseman Matt Mervis and cash from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Vidal BrujánDECEMBER 29, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
MATT MERVIS #36 - FIRST BASEMAN - MIAMI MARLINS
0 HR •
3 RBI •
.115 AVG
0 HR
3 RBI
.115 AVG
Moved to Miami The Marlins acquired Mervis from the Cubs on Sunday in exchange for utility man Vidal Brujan, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Following a breakout 2022 campaign in the minors, Mervis entered 2023 as one of the more highly regarded prospects in baseball thanks to his combination of power hitting and on-base skills, but the sheen had largely worn off over the past two seasons. Mervis struck out at a 31.5 percent clip and posted a meager .103 ISO over 127 plate appearances in the majors with the Cubs across the past two seasons, and he didn't mash in the minors in 2024 like he had in the past either, slashing .235/.329/.434 in 81 games with Triple-A Iowa. Though he still had a minor-league option remaining, Mervis didn't seem to have much of a future in Chicago with Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki entrenched at first base and designated hitter, respectively, but he should have a clearer path to playing time in Miami. Jonah Bride currently sits atop the organizational depth chart at first base, but Mervis' superior pop likely makes him a higher-upside option.
DECEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Makes return from IL Mervis (hand) was reinstated from Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list Tuesday and has gone 4-for-17 with five walks since rejoining the lineup.
Impact Mervis missed about six and a half weeks with a hand injury and didn't require a rehab assignment before being activated. The 26-year-old has spent the majority of the season at Iowa, slashing .238/.332/.463 with 13 home runs and two stolen bases over 60 games.
AUGUST 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Lands on IL with hand injury Triple-A Iowa placed Mervis on its 7-day injured list July 4 with an apparent hand injury, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports.
Impact The Triple-A club hasn't provided official word on the nature of Mervis' injury, though Birch notes that the first baseman is suspected to be dealing with a broken hamate bone. Since being optioned to Iowa on May 4 after an abbreviated stint with the Cubs, Mervis was slashing .215/.286/.424 with eight home runs and a 26.7 percent strikeout rate over 37 games.
JULY 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
The Cubs need a lefty slugger. So why is prospect Matt Mervis still at Triple A? Mervis is getting regular playing time in the minors. But his return probably isn’t far off, especially with a deadline sell-off likely.
JULY 19, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Chicago Cubs: Cody Bellinger returns, Matt Mervis to Iowa Cody Bellinger returns to the Chicago Cubs, who optioned prospect Matt Mervis to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday in hopes he can reset after strug...
JUNE 16, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Optioned to Iowa The Cubs optioned Mervis to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Impact There was a lot of hype around Mervis when he got his first MLB call-up in early May, but he'll head back to the farm after posting a brutal .167/.242/.289 batting line with three home runs and 32 strikeouts across his first 99 big-league plate appearances. Cody Bellinger (knee) has been activated off the injured list in a corresponding roster move and is expected to factor in at first base moving forward.
JUNE 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
How Mervis hopes to turn tees into fields This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regula...
JUNE 12, 2023 • MLB.COM
Opens scoring Saturday Mervis went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Giants.
Impact Mervis was in quite the rough patch over his last nine games, going just 1-for-26 with a 3:11 BB:K. He at least put an end to his power drought with a third-inning solo shot off Jakob Junis that ended up being all the offense the Cubs needed. Mervis has three homers over his first 24 big-league games, but he's struggled to a .173/.247/.309 slash line with 10 RBI and eight runs scored through 89 plate appearances. He is likely to remain in a strong-side platoon role while learning on the job against major-league pitching. Trey Mancini figures to play first base against most lefties.
JUNE 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Out against lefty Mervis isn't in the Cubs' lineup Thursday against the Angels.
Impact With the left-handed Reid Detmers set to start the game on the mound for Los Angeles, Mervis will retreat to the dugout. Trey Mancini will fill in at first base and bat seventh.
JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Why Matt Mervis and Christopher Morel are in tough spots as Chicago Cubs try to get their anemic offense on track ANAHEIM, Calif. — Chicago Cubs first baseman Matt Mervis got the pitch he wanted.
JUNE 8, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Still adjusting to bigs, Mervis has plenty in his corner ANAHEIM -- Dansby Swanson found rookie Matt Mervis during the Cubs’ last homestand and offered an apology. The veteran shortstop felt he cou...
JUNE 7, 2023 • MLB.COM
Sitting against lefty Mervis is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Padres.
Impact Mervis will remain on the bench for a second game in a row as the Cubs face left-hander Blake Snell on Monday. Righty bat Trey Mancini will start at first base and bat seventh in the series finale with San Diego.
JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
On bench versus southpaw Mervis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
Impact The 25-year-old will sit Sunday with lefty Ryan Weathers on the mound for San Diego, and it marks Mervis' fifth time on the bench in Chicago's last eight games. The first baseman is 0-for-16 with three walks and seven strikeouts dating back to May 24. Trey Mancini will receive the start at first base in the series finale.
JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Sitting amid struggles Mervis is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Rays.
Impact Mervis has gone 0-for-11 with five strikeouts over his last four games and is slashing just .194/.275/.306 through his first 69 major-league plate appearances. Trey Mancini will start at first base for the Cubs on Tuesday and Christopher Morel will serve as the designated hitter.
MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Takes seat Sunday Mervis is out of the starting lineup versus the Reds on Sunday.
Impact Mervis is currently in the midst of an 0-for-9 skid over the last three games, and the rookie first baseman will get a day of rest against Cincinnati on Sunday. Trey Mancini will be the starting first baseman and hit sixth while Christopher Morel is the designated hitter and will hit fifth.
MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
How the Cubs landed on Matt Mervis, their new first baseman learning on the job "This is the job that I've always wanted to work. I was given the opportunity. And from there, (it's on me) to produce," Mervis said.
MAY 25, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Goes deep Tuesday Mervis went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run, two runs scored and three total RBI in Tuesday's win over the Mets.
Impact Mervis was dropped to ninth in the order for the first time all season, but the 25-year-old responded with arguably his best game of the year. The Cubs have veterans Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini on hand, but Mervis figures to keep seeing regular playing time at first base as the team looks to get him acclimated to the MLB level, and efforts like this certainly help his cause.
MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Dropped to ninth in lineup Mervis has been dropped to the ninth spot in the lineup Tuesday against the Mets.
Impact This is the lowest lineup spot yet for the highly-touted young first baseman, who has struggled to a .208/.255/.292 slash line through his first 51 major-league plate appearances with the Cubs. Mervis seems sure to get it going at some point, and maybe a little less pressure will help the cause toward a breakout.
MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Not in starting lineup Friday Mervis is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Phillies.
Impact Trey Mancini will play first base and bat sixth with left-hander Ranger Suarez on the mound for Philly. Patrick Wisdom is serving as the DH and Nick Madrigal is covering third base. Mervis has slashed just .220/.256/.317 through his first 43 major-league plate appearances. He's struck out six times in 10 plate appearances against lefties.
MAY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
How the 2019 Cape Cod League became a pivotal point in Cubs slugger Matt Mervis' career CHICAGO — In the lead-up to the 2019 Cape Cod League season, a player landed on Mike Roberts’ radar.
MAY 17, 2023 • SACBEE.COM
How the 2019 Cape Cod League became a pivotal point in Chicago Cubs slugger Matt Mervis' career Matt Mervis was a little hesitant to embrace his manager’s feedback during the 2019 Cape Cod League. But the Chicago Cubs rookie knew someth...
MAY 17, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Hits first MLB home run Mervis went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Astros.
Impact Mervis connected against Cristian Javier in the second inning for his first career MLB home run. He had six long balls in 24 games at the Triple-A level this season and should continue to develop his power stroke in the majors as he settles in. The rookie is now batting .250 with a .650 OPS across nine games and figures to stick as the team's primary option at first base for the foreseeable future.
MAY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Heads to bench against lefty Mervis is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.
Impact With southpaw Framber Valdez on the bump for Houston in the series opener, the lefty-hitting Mervis will give way to Trey Mancini at first base. Since his call-up from Triple-A Iowa on May 5, Mervis has started in eight of the Cubs' subsequent 10 games while hitting .219 with a 41.2 percent strikeout rate.
MAY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Mervis double sparks Cubs rally in 7th for 5-2 win over Twins Rookie Matt Mervis crushed a tying RBI double in a seventh-inning breakthrough for the Chicago Cubs, who rallied to beat Minnesota 5-2 after...
MAY 13, 2023 • DAILYHERALD.COM
