Cubs Make a Surprising Roster Move, DFA Garrett Cooper in Favor of Matt Mervis

This was not akin to the abortive Luis Torrens stint last April, or to the Cubs' doomed effort to resurrect the hype around Clint Frazier in 2022. Garrett Cooper didn't blow any doors off, but in 41 plate appearances distributed raggedly across the first 22 games of the season, he batted a respectable .270/.341/.432. There were even a few big hits mixed in there.

With his strikeout rate obdurately high and nothing new or exciting happening with his batted-ball data, though, the Cubs elected to move on. Even after Seiya Suzuki went down with an oblique strain during the team's West Coast swing, Cooper and the returning Patrick Wisdom made an awkward pair on the team's bench. Of Cooper, Wisdom, and Alexander Canario, the only credible outfielder in the bunch is the rookie Canario, so the Cubs had to make a decision between Cooper and Wisdom when they elected to call up Matt Mervis for a portion of their schedule chock-full of right-handed pitching. 

Calling up Mervis at all was a proactive decision, of course, but it's an understandable one. The offense needs another infusion of competence from the left side. Cutting Cooper instead of Wisdom is, if nothing else, a good reminder that Wisdom is a valued and valuable clubhouse presence. It's also an acknowledgment that, even if he's best confined to the infield corners and to DH as much as possible, he offers more versatility and defensive value than does Cooper.

Unlike most in-season DFA fodder, Cooper could have a bit of a trade market. Look for the Cubs to shop him around a bit in the coming couple of days, before waiving and/or releasing him. 

We'll have more right here in this post as we learn more about the team's roster moves today. (UPDATE: Since there was an extra move involved and the newsworthiness added up, we instead break down the pitching side of today's roster maneuvering here. Check it out.)