All signs point to Shaw starting at third base for Cubs

There have been some teases on social media about the Cubs getting involved with Houston free agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

Surprises can happen, but the message during two days of the Cubs Convention was clear: Third base is Matt Shaw's job to lose.

The team's 2023 first-round draft pick has yet to make his major-league debut, and he isn't necessarily a natural third baseman. Backstage at the Sheraton Grand on Saturday, he talked about being excited for both the opportunity and challenge.

“Definitely something I was aware of when they traded away (Isaac) Paredes and Cam Smith (for Kyle Tucker),” Shaw said. “You hope that's because they have belief in me. We'll see how everything pans out. Obviously I'm going to do everything can do to earn that position.”

Shaw's performance at the plate put him in this spot. He posted a .929 OPS in 35 games at Triple-A Iowa last summer, with 21 home runs between Tennessee and Iowa. He also hit .412 in November at the Premier 12, sort of a World Cup of baseball competition.

“When he gets in the box, you can just tell this guy is a hitter,” Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly said. “Those guys tend to make adjustments really quick.

“I think the one thing with Matty is he's hit everywhere he's been. He hit in high school, he raked in college (at Maryland), he's flown through the minor leagues.”

Besides trading Parades and 2024 first-rounder Cam Smith to the Astros, the Cubs also parted ways with Patrick Wisdom, Nick Madrigal and David Bote. If Shaw's not ready to start at third, it's not clear who else would take over.

General manager Carter Hawkins mentioned Rule 5 draft addition Gage Workman, who has also yet to make his major-league debut, as a candidate. The Cubs added Vidal Brujan from Miami in a trade for Matt Mervis. Brujan, 26, has major-league experience but has played mostly second base and outfield.

And just so there are no surprises, Shaw is listed at 5-foot-9. He's much closer physically to Madrigal than he is to, say, Nico Hoerner.

“I would say footwork is a really big one for me,” Shaw said. “Something that actually Nick Madrigal did a really good job of is really using his feet well to get the ball over to first base.

“I watch a lot of guys, (Nolan) Arenado, Bregman, different guys like that who are really talented. There's a lot of different ways to field the position. There's different body types and different ways to go about it. Those guys are two Gold Glove third basemen that field in very different ways.”

Bullpen help

If there's a big move still to come for the Cubs, it will probably involve a reliever. A new internet rumor has the Cubs involved with lefthander Tanner Scott, who posted a 1.75 ERA with 22 saves for San Diego and Miami last season.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has said the team plans to utilize its savings from the Cody Bellinger trade at another spot, and Scott would fit with that plan.

“We're involved in a lot of different relievers,” Hoyer said. “Tons of lines in the water. It's a little bit of a staring contest at times. There's a lot of talent out there and we'll look to upgrade the roster however we can. We're definitely focused on the bullpen, focused on our bench.”

Hoerner recovering

One way the Cubs might be able to improve this year is better health up the middle with shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner. Both had surgeries after last season — Swanson to repair a core injury and Hoerner with a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm.

“I just couldn't really throw the ball, to be honest (at the end of last season),” Hoerner said Saturday. “I was fortunate to be playing second base and made it work, but I would rather be the full version of myself.”

While Swanson declared himself ready to go for the start of spring training next month, Hoerner has yet to throw or hit and didn't want to make any guarantees about playing Opening Day.

“If you (talked to) me when I got the surgery in October, I would be really pumped up with how I'm feeling right now,” Hoerner said. “Definitely happy with the progress I'm making.”

Pitcher Cade Horton, whose Triple-A season ended in May due to a lat strain, said he's throwing and on track for a normal spring training.