A Chicago Cubs bench unit that has been overhauled this offseason gained another bat option.
The Cubs acquired versatile infielder Vidal Bruján from the Miami Marlins on Sunday for first baseman Matt Mervis and cash considerations.
Bruján, 26, is coming off his fourth big-league season and first in Miami. He played every position except catcher for the Marlins in 2024, with most of his playing time featured at second base (31 games, 22 starts) and shortstop (28 games, 25 starts). The switch hitter has appeared in 201 MLB games and can give the Cubs depth, providing manager Craig Counsell an interesting option off the bench.
Signed by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014, the Dominican was traded to the Marlins in November 2023. He was designated for assignment by the Marlins on Dec. 20.
Mervis will get a chance to establish himself in the majors with the rebuilding Marlins, as there was no clear path for him in Chicago.
Mervis, 26, had been a promising slugger in the Cubs’ system but hadn’t been able to take advantage of the few opportunities he’s had the last two years at the big-league level. In 36 games, Mervis hit .155 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.
He had been signed by the Cubs as a free agent out of Duke following the 2020 MLB draft, which had been shortened to five rounds due to the pandemic.