The Chicago Cubs boast a deep and talented roster, but with the trade deadline approaching, they’re expected to make additions—and that likely means making room by cutting players currently on the active roster.
One name stands out as a likely candidate for a roster move: utility man Vidal Bruján. FanSided’s Zachary Rotman recently predicted that the Cubs will part ways with Bruján in the near future.
“Small sample, sure, but Bruján has been on the active roster since mid-April when he was activated off the IL and has started a total of six games,” Rotman noted. “Yes, he’s essentially started two games per month for half the season, which is absurd. For the most part, he’s either entered a game as a defensive replacement, a pinch-runner, or as a pinch-hitter in a blowout.”
With such limited usage and the Cubs eyeing impact upgrades at the deadline, Bruján appears to be on the bubble as Chicago reshapes its roster for a postseason push.
Vidal Bruján’s time with the Chicago Cubs appears to be nearing its end—and for good reason.
While his positional versatility is a plus, his overall contributions have been minimal. As Zachary Rotman pointed out, “Bruján can play a variety of positions, which is valuable, but what else does he offer?” Offensively, he’s struggled mightily, posting just a .389 OPS this season and a .522 OPS across parts of five MLB seasons. Despite his reputation for speed, the numbers tell a different story: just 16 stolen bases in 30 career attempts and a modest 42nd percentile sprint speed, per Baseball Savant.
Acquired in an offseason trade, Bruján never seemed like a natural fit in a loaded Cubs lineup. With the team expected to be active buyers at the trade deadline, adding multiple impact players, Bruján is the clear odd man out. As Rotman concluded, cutting ties with Bruján feels inevitable—and he’s likely to be one of the first names removed from the roster once the front office starts making moves.
