The Chicago Cubs aren’t just tinkering this offseason – they’re making moves with intent. After trading for Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera and locking in veteran infielder Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million deal, the North Siders are clearly signaling they’re ready to compete now. But with all that activity comes a new challenge: finding playing time for rising prospect Matt Shaw.
Shaw, one of the Cubs’ top young talents, has been knocking on the door, and his bat is too intriguing to leave sitting. The problem?
The infield is getting crowded. With Bregman now in the mix and Nico Hoerner still holding down second base, there’s not an obvious everyday spot for Shaw – at least not on the dirt.
Enter Cubs president Jed Hoyer, who’s already thinking outside the box. According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, Hoyer floated the idea of Shaw getting reps in the outfield, specifically in right field. It’s a creative pivot – and one that speaks to the Cubs’ broader emphasis on versatility and maximizing roster depth.
Now, Shaw doesn’t have big league experience in the outfield, but right field could be the best fit, at least on paper. The Cubs already have elite gloves in the grass – Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong can both cover ground with the best of them.
Happ, in particular, has been a defensive force, winning four straight Gold Gloves. Crow-Armstrong, meanwhile, just picked up his first last season and looks like a fixture in center for years to come.
That said, if Kyle Tucker ends up walking in free agency – a real possibility – there’s a potential opening in right. Seiya Suzuki spent time there last season, but the results were mixed.
In just 48 games in right, he posted -2 Defensive Runs Saved. Not catastrophic, but not ideal either.
Suzuki’s bat, however, was a different story. He crushed a career-high 32 homers and drove in 103 runs, thriving in the designated hitter spot when given the chance.
If Shaw can handle right field defensively, even in a part-time role, it could be a win-win. He’d get more at-bats, Suzuki could stay fresh and focused at DH, and the Cubs would be able to keep their best bats in the lineup without sacrificing too much on defense.
Of course, this all hinges on Hoerner’s status. If the Cubs decide to move him – and that door hasn’t been shut – Shaw could slide into second base, his more natural position.
But even if that doesn’t happen, giving Shaw outfield reps now sets him up to be a key utility piece moving forward. In today’s game, positional flexibility is gold, and Shaw adding the outfield to his toolkit only increases his value.
Bottom line: the Cubs are building a roster with options, and Shaw’s development – both at the plate and in the field – could be a major storyline to watch as the season unfolds.
