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Matt Mervis is a former Chicago Cubs prospect who many like to point to as an example of why a team shouldn't bank on projection. Earning the nickname "mash" through his ascension through the Cubs' minor-league system, fans thought Mervis was going to be the answer to the void at first base that was created after Anthony Rizzo was traded in 2021.
If anything, Mervis proved why Cubs fans sometimes get ahead of their skis when talking about prospects. It never clicked at the Major League level for Mervis during his time with the Cubs, posting an OPS+ of 46 and -13 in 2023 and 2024. With Michael Busch appearing to be the answer at first, the Cubs ended the Mervis experiment last offseason when they traded him to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Vidal Bruján.
Ironically, Bruján was cut loose by the Cubs last week, and the Marlins announced on Tuesday that they have released Mervis.
#Marlins have released the following players:
— Kevin Barral (@kevin_barral) August 5, 2025
- Matt Mervis (AAA)
- Harrison Spohn (AAA)
- Rob Brantly (AAA)
Additionally, Zach McCambley and Matt Pushard have been placed on the development list
After hitting 7 home runs with the Marlins during the first month of the season, Major League pitchers quickly found the answer to getting him out. Before the Marlins optioned Mervis to Triple-A, the 27-year-old first baseman was slashing .175/.254/.383.
Fans swore he’d shine but Marlins just dumped this former Cubs prospect
With the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate, Mervis may have just confirmed that he's no better than a four-A player. In 145 plate appearances with Triple-A Jacksonville, Mervis slashed .250/.310/.614 with 13 home runs.
Some Cubs fans were critical that the team did not give Mervis more of a run at first base, but it seemed that the organization was aware of the limitations he had at the Major League level. There was also talk that after Mervis' first run at the Major League level, he was given swing adjustments to make, and the organization never saw the expected changes.
Many fans have also pointed to Mervis' trajectory as a reason why Owen Caissie can't be viewed as a certainty. While there is no guarantee that Caissie will live up to his lofty expectations, his prospect profile has more substance than what Mervis projected.