Garrett Cooper's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

The Chicago Cubs designated outfielder Garrett Cooper for assignment on Tuesday, according to a source. Cooper wasn't exactly slumping at the plate, but the Cubs think he's expendable in order to bring up first base prospect Matt Mervis as another right-handed bat. The 33-year-old Cooper was hitting .270/.341/.432 with a home run, double, triple, six RBI and three runs scored in 41 trips to the plate and 12 games for the Cubs before getting DFA'd. He had walked four times and struck out 13 times. For now, Mervis is likely to see most of his time as the team's designated hitter, at least until outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique) is able to return from the injured list. Mervis is worth a pickup in NL-only leagues for now.

Free-agent first baseman Garrett Cooper signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training, according to a source. Cooper will compete for playing time at first base this spring alongside newcomer Michael Busch and Matt Mervis. The 33-year-old veteran was an All-Star in 2022 with the Miami Marlins, and he hit .251/.304/.419 with a career-high 17 home runs, 18 doubles, a triple, 61 RBI and 42 runs scored in 123 games with the Marlins and San Diego Padres last season. At best, Cooper will probably be on the short side of a platoon at the cold corner in Chicago against left-handed pitching. In his seven seasons in the big leagues, he has never reached the 20-homer mark and has just one stolen base in 481 career games.

The Milwaukee Brewers have considered a reunion with first baseman Carlos Santana but have also considered free-agent first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper, according to sources. The 33-year-old right-handed-hitting veteran was originally drafted by Milwaukee in the sixth round in 2013 and is coming off a season with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres in which he hit .251/.304/.419 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI. A rival scout predicted that Cooper could hit 20 to 25 home runs in a hitter-friendly ballpark like in Milwaukee. If Cooper joins the Brew Crew, he'd become an interesting late-round flier for some pop in deep mixed leagues. He was a first-time All-Star for the Fish in 2022, when he hit .261/.337/.415 with nine home runs and 50 RBI in 119 games.