Shaw is nursing an oblique injury but is considered day-to-day, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Oblique issues can be worrisome, but this at least appears to be a minor one. Still, any sort of setback for Shaw is not ideal since he is competing to be the Cubs' Opening Day third baseman. The team figures to hold their top prospect out of early spring training games.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Looks more secure in role
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Shaw's chances of starting the season as Chicago's regular third baseman seemingly improved when the club missed out on free agent Alex Bregman, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Shaw has seemingly had the inside track on the starting gig at the hot corner in recent weeks, though Bregman was looming in the background. However, now that the latter has signed with the Red Sox, Shaw seems to have a clearer path to the role. The 23-year-old will still need to have a solid spring, and the Cubs could still look to add a veteran option before camp ends, but any move now might be more along the lines of improving the bench. Shaw's fantasy outlook is on the rise, and he could be a breakout performer in 2025 given his prospect pedigree.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Officially invited to camp
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Shaw was among 20 non-roster players invited to spring training by the Cubs on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
This was expected, as Shaw has been mentioned as the potential top option at third base heading into the season. That spot opened up when the Cubs traded Isaac Paredes as part of the package to land Kyle Tucker. The 23-year-old Shaw is one of Chicago's top prospects and could emerge as a solid fantasy option in 2025 if the playing time is there.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Top option at third?
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Shaw is considered the "leading contender" for the Opening Day starting job at third base, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
With Isaac Paredes traded in the Kyle Tucker deal, third base is open, and Shaw has the prospect pedigree to warrant a long look. At this point, he seems to be the top option for the role, with veteran utility player Jon Berti likely backing up at the hot corner as well as across the diamond. Of course, Shaw could strengthen his claim with a productive spring training. The 23-year-old slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa last season.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Will get 'long look' at third base
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Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Tuesday that Shaw will get a "long look" at third base, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Third base is open for the Cubs following the trade of Isaac Paredes, and Shaw looks to be the top internal candidate to fill it, particularly with the club adamant that Michael Busch will remain at first base. Hoyer did note that Shaw will not be handed the third-base job and will have to win it during spring training. The top prospect slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2024 and boasts enormous fantasy potential.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Path open to starting job
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Shaw has a path to the Cubs' starting job at third base following the trade of Isaac Paredes, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
With Paredes no longer around and Nico Hoerner (elbow) potentially unavailable for the start of the season, Shaw looks to have a good shot to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster. The top prospect slashed .284/.379/.488 with 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2024.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Out with back issue
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Shaw strained his back making a play in the field Sunday for Triple-A Iowa and is considered day-to-day, MLB.com reports.
The report from Monday states that Shaw could miss a few days, and he hasn't returned to action yet. Shaw had a slow start to the year, but he is slashing .314/.397/.547 with 14 home runs, 18 steals and a 14.8 percent strikeout rate in his last 64 games across Double-A and Triple-A.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Raking at Double-A
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Shaw has hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games for Double-A Tennessee, batting .460 (23-for-50) over that stretch with four homers, five steals, 12 RBI, 16 runs and a 3:3 BB:K.
The 22-year-old top prospect appears to have nothing left to learn at the Double-A level. After a somewhat slow beginning to the campaign in which he was both unlucky and a bit too patient at the plate, things have clicked for Shaw over the last couple months, and he now sports a .282/.377/.475 slash line through 84 games for Tennessee in 2024. He has mainly played third base this season, but he's also seen action in 14 games at shortstop and 19 games at second base, and his ultimate defensive home in the majors is uncertain following the Cubs' acquisition of Isaac Paredes at the trade deadline. Shaw should get a promotion to Triple-A before the end of the season, with a 2025 big-league debut firmly on the table.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Invited to MLB spring training
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The Cubs announced Friday that Shaw received an invitation to major-league spring training.
Fellow top prospect Owen Caissie will join Shaw in big-league camp. A first-round pick in the 2023 Draft, Shaw slashed .357/.400/.618 with eight homers and 15 steals across three levels in his pro debut, reaching Double-A Tennessee. He's mostly played shortstop and second base to this point, but Shaw's offseason workouts have been focused mainly at third base, where he has the clearest path to playing time with the Cubs. An Opening Day roster spot is unlikely, but we could see the 22-year-old sometime in 2024.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Focusing on third base this winter
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Shaw said Saturday that he's taken "probably 99 percent" of his reps this offseason at third base, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports.
The No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Shaw saw more playing time at shortstop and second base than third base during his pro debut. However, with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner holding down the middle infield with the Cubs, Shaw's future could be at the hot corner. It was a sample of just 170 plate appearances, but Shaw slashed a robust .357/.400/.618 with eight homers and 15 steals across three levels in 2023. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he could push to debut in 2024.