As the Chicago Cubs gear up for another Spring Training, all eyes will be on the key position battles that could shape the team's Opening Day roster. Although there are clear answers for the majority of the team's starting roles, the team's top farm system, a key injury, and a breakout rookie performance from last season will make the Opening Day roster crunch more interesting for the infield and bullpen.
Let’s break down the most intriguing position battles Cubs fans should watch this spring.
1. Third Base
The hot corner is up in the air at the moment. After the Kyle Tucker trade, Chicago's starting third baseman Isaac Paredes and one of their key third-base prospects, Cam Smith, were sent to Houston. Leaving the team short-handed at the position.
The team's no. 1 prospect Matt Shaw is considered the top candidate to take on the role in 2025, but it is not a foregone conclusion. Although Shaw's skills at the plate have been impressive across all levels of the Minors, he has yet to make his Major League debut and he is unproven when it comes to facing MLB pitching.
Another obstacle is Shaw's abilities at third. The 5'9 rookie is a natural middle infielder whose strongest position on defense is second base given his stature and arm strength. That being said, Shaw's most-played position in 2024 was third base, where he logged 552.1 innings and 63 starts between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.
Shaw will likely be competing against newcomers Jon Berti and Vidal Brujan, utility players that the Cubs brought in to fill out their bench. It's possible one of these players will begin the season as the starting third baseman until Shaw forces the front office's hand, but it depends what each player showcases in Spring Training.
Of course, the front office could opt to solve the third base problem by signing two-time All-Star Alex Bregman, who is the best third baseman remaining on the free agent market. The Cubs reportedly remain one of the final teams in on Bregman, along with the Astros, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays. If the Cubs can somehow land the veteran third baseman, the floor of their projected 90-win season will only improve.