Cubs News: Grading the Vidal Brujan for Matt Mervis trade |
With the Holiday Season ending, no one expected the Chicago Cubs to make much noise for the time being. In fact, many experts predicted this team would remain quiet until after the new year before setting their sights on the second half of the MLB offseason.
Although the Cubs haven't done anything significant in a few weeks, they did make a trade with the Miami Marlins on Sunday. Matt Mervis was dealt to Miami in exchange for Vidal Brujan. This move has been brewing for a few seasons, as Mervis simply was out of options in Chicago. Perhaps a change of scenery will do him well, and he will finally get an opportunity to contribute from day one. While the Cubs and Marlins have been discussing trades all offseason, most of the talk surrounded Jesus Luzardo, who wound up going to Philadelphia. Seeing Brujan on the move does come as a bit of a surprise, but to get him for just one mid-tier prospect is worth nothing for Jed Hoyer. The 26-year-old Brujan was once one of the best prospects in the Rays organization and reached the top 50 overall prospect list at one point. His overall production in the Minor Leagues shows why, as he has hit a combined .286 since breaking into the league in 2015. While his 48 homers indicate he doesn't have much pop, his 240-plus stolen bases show that speed is a massive factor in his success. Knowing how much emphasis the Cubs are putting on baserunning this season, speed is going to be a huge part of their success, which is why Brujan does make some sense. His best overall season came in 2021 as a member of the AAA Durham Bulls. Granted, his average fell to .262 that season, but Brujan found a minor power surge as he connected for 12 homers and 56 RBIs. Both were career highs, while he also added 44 stolen bases that season. While the Minor League numbers are solid, the MLB numbers aren't great, as he has seen action in 240 career games. That included a career-high 102 games last season with the Marlins, where he hit a career-high .222. Brujan added two homers, 16 RBIs, and five steals as he continued to struggle to hit MLB pitching.
Looking at this from the outside, you wouldn't think this move made any sense for the Cubs, especially with the low offensive numbers. However, this move does make a lot of sense, and all you have to do is look at his defensive ability to understand why. Not only can Brujan play second base, which could come in handy should Nico Hoerner be out for a little bit, but he can also play all over the diamond.
That gives the Cubs another versatile defensive option to move all over the diamond, and Craig Counsell has always loved having that on his roster. Essentially, Brujan may be battling with Miles Mastrobuoni for the final bench spot on this team, which could be good news in some aspects.
Losing Mervis does sting a bit, but his path to the Majors was never going to happen with the Cubs, especially when you saw how his first two stints went. There is no doubt that Mervis has always flashed plenty of MLB potential, evident by his .268 career Minor League average and 82 homers. Thirty-six came when he broke onto the scene in 2022, adding 119 RBIs that season to rank near the top of Minor League baseball.
One season later, those numbers weren't quite as good, but with 22 homers, 78 RBIs, and a .282 average, Mervis continued to prove he was too good for AAA pitching but not quite good enough for MLB pitching. Last season was a struggle for Mervis, who not only dealt with some injuries that limited his production but also failed to deliver when he was called up for a second time in as many seasons.
In 36 career MLB games, Mervis has struggled at the plate, hitting just .155 and adding three homers and 14 RBIs. His nine walks and 40Ks were also a concern as he always could take walks in the Minors. Going to the Marlins will allow Mervis to make the team out of camp not only as a 1B, but also as a potential DH depending on the Marlins' other options. Best of luck to him and his next chapter.
Grade C: This is another one of those moves that won't move the needle a ton. On one side, you knew Mervis would be on the way out sooner or later, but losing him does sting a little when you look at how loved he was.
On the other hand, you're getting a guy with over 200 games of MLB experience who can play anywhere across the diamond and can bounce between AAA and the MLB if needed. It was a win-win for both parties as it opened up a brand new opportunity for one player while creating potential opportunities for the Cubs.
