The Marlins acquired Mervis from the Cubs on Sunday in exchange for utility man Vidal Brujan, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

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 has 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 pair of campaigns, 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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

The Cubs optioned Mervis to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Mervis was called up to the big club April 23 after a strong start in Triple-A, where he slashed .288/.402/.606 with six doubles, five home runs and 13 RBI over 82 plate appearances with Iowa. That hasn't translated to the majors, as he's gone 3-for-26 with three RBI and eight strikeouts over nine games, and manager Craig Counsell noted that Mervis needs to go "back to the drawing board" in Triple-A, per Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. The Cubs called up infielder Miles Mastrobuoni in a corresponding move.

Mervis is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Patrick Wisdom will get the nod at designated hitter while Mervis sits for the second time in three games. Mervis has still started in seven of the Cubs' last 10 games overall, but he's gone just 3-for-23 with one walk over that stretch. The 26-year-old could soon be at risk of a demotion to Triple-A Iowa if he doesn't turn things around in the near future.

Mervis is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Following his promotion from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Mervis served as the Cubs' designated hitter in both of the ensuing two games, going 0-for-6 with three strikeouts between those contests. Though he'll retreat to the bench Thursday, the lefty-hitting Mervis will likely see the bulk of the starts at DH against right-handed pitching until the Cubs get Seiya Suzuki (oblique) back from the 10-day injured list.

Mervis was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and is batting eighth as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Astros, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 26-year-old was called up as expected Tuesday and will immediately make his way into the starting nine. Michael Busch has earned an everyday role at first base with his hot start to the season, so Mervis is likely to see most of his playing time at designated hitter, especially while Seiya Suzuki (oblique) remains sidelined.

The Cubs are expected to recall Mervis from Triple-A Iowa prior to Tuesday's game against the Astros, Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hayden Wesneski is also headed back to the majors, per Birch. There's no word yet on what the corresponding moves will be, but Wesneski would have to replace an injured player since he hasn't been down 10 days yet. That could point to an injured list stint for Ian Happ (hamstring). Mervis is slashing .288/.402/.606 with five home runs and a 19:12 K:BB over his first 82 plate appearances with Iowa this season. He could see some action in the designated hitter spot for the Cubs.

Through 13 games with Triple-A Iowa, Mervis is batting .333 with four home runs, 10 RBI and a 1.112 OPS.

EDGE Analysis

Mervis has been locked in to start the season and looks like a player ready to return to the majors. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut last season but struggled, recording a .167/.242/.289 slash line across 27 games, to go along with a 32.3 percent strikeout rate. However, there is still some prospect appeal here, and Mervis could push for a second chance sooner than later if he keeps up his strong play in the minors. With Seiya Suzuki (oblique) hitting the IL on Monday, there could be an opportunity, though outfielder Alexander Canario received the initial promotion.

The Cubs optioned Mervis to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Despite posting a strong slash line of .300/.432/.400 in 19 Cactus League games, Mervis fell well shy of making the season-opening 26-man roster, as he was cut with 42 players still remaining in big-league camp. After a rough showing in his first taste of the big leagues in 2023, Mervis will likely need to mash at Iowa and/or wait for an injury to hit the Cubs' first-base/designated-hitter ranks before he gets another extended opportunity in Chicago.