The Chicago Cubs have received an update on a former infielder who made a brief but memorable debut with the team before being traded away—and now, he's leaving Major League Baseball entirely to continue his career overseas.
First baseman Matt Mervis, who appeared in 36 games for the Cubs across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, has signed with a team in the Mexican League. Mervis originally joined the Cubs as an undrafted free agent, working his way up through the minor leagues before earning his shot in the majors. His time in Chicago was cut short when the Cubs traded him to the Miami Marlins in exchange for infielder Vidal Brujan before last season.
Mervis's departure comes as the Cubs themselves are navigating a critical stretch. After dropping their fourth straight game on Wednesday—falling to the Atlanta Braves in a matchup between the National League's top two teams—Chicago is looking to rebound and build on last year's playoff run. Despite the recent skid, the Cubs have shown flashes of brilliance this season, including two separate 10-game winning streaks early on.
According to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, those streaks put the Cubs in rare company. "Only four other teams in major-league history have posted two winning streaks of at least 10 games within the first 39 games of a season," Mooney noted, citing the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1941 St. Louis Cardinals, 1887 St. Louis Browns, and 1880 Chicago White Stockings as the only other teams to accomplish the feat.
Still, the Cubs have some roster concerns to address before the trade deadline if they hope to make a deep postseason push. Their rotation has been thinned by injuries to key arms like Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and Matthew Boyd, making potential moves a priority.
For Mervis, the move to the Mexican League represents a fresh start after a challenging MLB debut. While his time in the big leagues was brief, his journey from undrafted free agent to the majors remains a testament to his perseverance—a story that resonates with any athlete who has ever chased a dream against the odds.