Go Matt Mervis -- I'm guessing he's never nervous, a fan of Scott Servais (or Scott Service), as cool as Brian Nankervis pretends to be (only Hugh might get that reference), whirls like a ...

I didn't see the game but I'll agree with you anyway Jim. Who do they think is watching the Fall Stars game? Some casual fan excited to hear from some 3rd-tier celebrity? It's baseball nerds and family members, old teammates, etc. of the players involved. I mean have constant in-game interviews with the coaches and the players themselves sure -- the whole purpose of this is to promote the players and, for those who never make it, give them their moment in the sun. Unless Jim is complaining about interviews with mom and dad which are awesome if mom and dad have personalities.

Undrafted in 2020 (for reasons) to being on the cusp of a starting job in MLB in 2023.

Everybody in the Cubs' system is on the cusp of a starting job in MLB in 2023. Beating out Frank Schwindel and Alfonso Rivas (and let's not mention DH) is not hard. The Cubs used 64 different players last year.

Progress isn't linear and all that, but every time Matt Mervis does anything, it's better than the last thing he did. At this rate he's going to be Paul Goldschmidt by June. I hope they give him a shot at 1B on opening day. What else are you going to do? Sign Rizzo or Abreu for another year? So many higher priorities for spending this off-season.

Undrafted in 2020 (for reasons) to being on the cusp of a starting job in MLB in 2023.

Reasons being the draft was shortened to only 5 rounds that year. He was also a 2 way player in college, but switched to just hitting after signing with the Cubs.

Even with the great year, and doing across multiple levels, he still hasn't exactly shot up prospect lists, even the Cubs specific one. Some comments from KLaw:

So I’ve gotten a lot of questions about Cubs first baseman Matt Mervis, especially after he homered twice in a game last week. I saw all three of his homers during the week while I was there, and all three came on hanging breaking balls from right-handers, pitches he’s not likely to ever see in the majors. Mervis was undrafted twice out of Duke, graduating in 2020 and signing as a free agent with the Cubs, who started him in High A this year as a 24-year-old. He hit well enough there to move up to Double A, and again there to move up to Triple A, hitting .297/.383/.593 with just a 12 percent strikeout rate. He’s very strong, but does not have great bat speed, and even in the pitching-light AFL his difficulty with velocity middle-in or just in showed up very quickly; when pitchers did come inside, even with just average fastballs, he couldn’t do anything beyond popping them up. I could see a role for him as a platoon 1B/DH, like Daniel Vogelbach, but not beyond that.

Reasons being the draft was shortened to only 5 rounds that year.

I know, that is why I put that caveat in there, but after a while, I realized it might look like I was talking about off the field crap or something about his character. I just like the fact that it's an undrafted player who has arrived pretty quickly to being ready for the majors.

Law is likely correct but this is a team where 1B was mainly manned by Schwindel and Rivas, combining for replacement level. DH was OK but that was mainly due to Contreras and the "incumbent" is Franmil Reyes (who admittedly has a solid MLB track record, just stunk this year). Sure, if the Cubs are set on competing this year, get a "real" 1B. But Mervis wouldn't rule out competing -- if he stinks but the team is doing OK, make a deadline deal for a 1B (Voit would likely be available and Voit is who you hope Mervis is). I'm happy to trust the Cubs on this decision.

Totally agreed. I think he absolutely should have the 1b job going into the season, assuming he doesn't go 0fer in spring training or something.

Then again, you see stuff like Jose Abreu supposedly being interesting in the Cubs, and I can easily talk myself into him for a year or two stop gap role (he could also DH). No, it's not a top priority, but they have so much damn money to spend. I guess it depends on how much they do with the rest of the roster (non-tendering Reyes is absolutely within the realm of possibility, btw, so they might have to at least add one external body besides giving Mervis a shot).

No, it's not a top priority, but they have so much damn money to spend.

They have money to spend, but 1B is really a low priority in my mind. I'd prioritize spending like this:
1) Contreras (a guy can dream)
2) Correa or similar
3) Rodon or similar
4) Smyly (I just like him, and he could come relatively cheap)
5) Short-term CF
6) Bullpen depth, preferably left-handed
7) Short-term 1B

Outside of Contreras, I agree with your list. Well, I mean, part of me would like them to keep him, but it's pretty clear he's gone.

Somewhere on that list is extending Hoerner and maybe Happ.

You're right, but I'll be tilting at that Contreras windmill until he signs somewhere else. I'd love t see them extend Hoerner and Happ too, but I'm more concerned with adding for 2023. I think the division is there for the taking.

Yep.

Of course, the Cubs went and threw a bunch of cold water on everyone today, leaking they're not really interested in signing super long deals. I at least understand the reasoning, but all this really means to me is the Cubs are going to have an underwhelming offseason and refuse the take advantage of this opening. Outside of Ohtani, next year's FA class sucks. The time to spend is right now.

You're right, but I'll be tilting at that Contreras windmill until he signs somewhere else. I'd love t see them extend Hoerner and Happ too, but I'm more concerned with adding for 2023. I think the division is there for the taking.

On my facebook page, someone posted a group of predictions by three mlb guys (didn't know who they were, but three guys for mlb) and they had the exact same picks for 1. Judge (Giants) 2. Contreras (Cardinals) 3. Nimmo (Mets)

(they also had two picks for Rondon to the Giants and Turner(?)... they really think the Giants are going to be spending.


As I said in another thread I would love Contreras, but in a perfect world the Cardinals sign Correa and trade for Salvador Perez with the excess position players we have, as Perez would appeal more to the Cardinals fans who value defense more than reasonable people should. (And I get that Perez is not actually on the trading block, but he's not part of the next winning team for the Royals)

I'll take that to mean that Jed is hoping to recreate the "let's sign Jon Lester at exactly the right time" scenario ... hopefully without the "let's sign Jason Heyward" add-on. If the Cubs can't get one of the top SS (or Judge but that's even more dreaming) then I'm not sure there's anybody worth a really long deal out there.

5) Short-term CF

They just don't exist at the moment. Anywhere in baseball. The only CF on the FA market I think is Nimmo who, although OK in CF, is probably better-suited to a corner and is turning 30. Anyway, you're not getting him short-term. Sure, we can proably pry loose one of the glove-first guys -- Taylor, Robles -- for not much return or maybe the "big prize" of Brian Reynolds although that will cost you. But there are about a dozen other teams looking for CF help. That includes the big-money Yanks (if no Judge), Dodgers (if no Judge), Mets (if no Judge/Nimmo), Phillies, Giants, Astros, Jays (surely it's time to consider Springer's durability and age). Sensible people (and I) start to wonder how Michael A Taylor ended up in KC for just 2/$9 -- what were real teams thinking? That Siri, Phillips, Rafael Ortega, Matt Vierling were "solutions?"

Also agree that I'm fine with a couple of years of Abreu but that doesn't rule out Mervis, just one of Mervis/Franmil.

That includes the big-money Yanks

You keep forgetting that they got Bader, even if they sign Judge, he's more than likely to be moved to right. (although he's a free agent after next season)

They just don't exist at the moment.

Keirmaier is one short term CF FA option, although a very fragile one. I think if he played in Wrigley full time, he'd break his neck running into the break wall at some point.

But yeah, that's a fair point, Walt.

I'll take that to mean that Jed is hoping to recreate the "let's sign Jon Lester at exactly the right time" scenario ... hopefully without the "let's sign Jason Heyward" add-on. If the Cubs can't get one of the top SS (or Judge but that's even more dreaming) then I'm not sure there's anybody worth a really long deal out there.

Obviously, make the best signing again and don't make the worst again is the goal. But it's not just SS, there's some SPs that could be worth it (Rodon, Senga). OTOH, it's quite rare (I think, and I know you'll correct me if I'm wrong) to have so many impact/All Star (call it whatever you want) talent available in FA at the same time, much less at a premium position. One of the biggest differences between this rebuild and the last one*, is that Cubs don't have any current players or prospects you would feel comfortable predicting will turn into an impact/AS/whatever level talent. I like Nico fine enough - don't love him, think he's injury prone, and probably isn't getting much better than this - but between having holes on the roster with tons of money available to spend, not getting an impact FA - and you just have to overpay as that's the nature of the market - could almost be considered a failure. I don't think that's true for every team per se, but for what that Cubs are right now and what they could be, it would be a failure, IMO. Not fatal, but potentially the type that will take years to recover from.

*Good lord, I so ####### hate it's another rebuild so soon. I just have to say that out loud again.