Cubs Announce Jon Berti Signing, DFA Luis Vázquez
The Cubs agreed to a deal with utility infielder Jon Berti several days ago, but adding him meant clearing space on the 40-man roster. They created room by designating 25-year-old infielder Luis Vázquez for assignment. A glove-first player whose bat had come around over the past two seasons, Vázquez was pushed out of favor by the rise of several other prospects and the additions of Berti, Vidal Bruján, and Gage Workman.
At this point, it’s a game of musical chairs at the bottom of the roster because the Cubs are still looking to add players. Matt Festa, who they acquired a little while back, was just DFA’d for Ryan Pressly. And with Jed Hoyer on the hunt for another reliever and perhaps a starter as well, you figure there will be at least one more DFA coming. Unless, that is, they swing a big trade that allows them to clear more than one spot at a time.
All that said, I’m still unsure why the Cubs would rather part with Vazquez than Bruján, who they picked up from the Marlins in exchange for Matt Mervis. Outside of once being a heralded prospect, Brujan has done nothing to indicate he’s a big leaguer. While he’s not gotten a ton of run, a 50 wRC+ and -2.0 fWAR in 550 plate appearances over parts of four seasons doesn’t exactly scream for a coming breakout.
For more specifics on this move and the players involved, see the media release below.
The Chicago Cubs today have agreed to terms with infielder Jon Berti on a one-year major league contract. To make room on the 40-man roster for Berti, INF Luis Vázquez was designated for assignment. The 40-man roster currently stands at 40 players.
Berti, 35, owns a .259 (372-for-1,436) batting average with 156 walks, 126 RBI, 97 stolen bases and 24 home runs in 461 career games in parts of seven major league seasons with Toronto (2018), Miami (2019-23) and New York- A.L. (2024). He made his major league debut on September 26, 2018, in Houston, recording his first career hit. Berti in 2023 played a career-high 133 games for the Marlins hitting .294 (113-for-388) with seven home runs and 33 RBI.
The five-foot ten-inch Berti in 2024 batted .273 (18-for-66) with six RBI, five stolen bases and one home run in 25 games. Among third basemen since the start of the 2018 season, his 97 stolen bases rank second in the majors behind Cleveland’s Jose Ramírez (min. 450 games). In 2022, Berti lead the National League with 41 stolen bases and became the recipient of the MLBPAA Marlins Heart and Hustle Award.
The Troy, Mich. native was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 18th round of the 2011 draft out of Bowling Green State and attended Troy High School. He was an MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2013 with the Blue Jays. In 2008, he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round but did not sign.
Vázquez, 25, appeared in 11 major league games for Chicago hitting .083 (1-for-12) with one RBI and made his major league debut on May 22, 2024 against Atlanta.