Cubs pause Matt Shaw's Major League development, option him to Triple-A

The Chicago Cubs are already making a pivot with Matt Shaw's development.

Keith Law of The Athletic reports that the Cubs are optioning Shaw to Triple-A Iowa. Shaw's offensive profile had yet to click at the Major League level, with an example of that being confirmed happening during the Cubs' loss to the San Diego Padres on Monday night. Craig Counsell opted for Jon Berti to pinch-hit for Shaw during a moment in the game when the Cubs needed an offensive rally.

Cubs alter the plan for Matt Shaw's development

Berti appears to be the likely candidate to be the de facto starting third baseman for the Cubs. Of course, the Cubs also have Justin Turner and Gage Workman on the 26-man roster.

Entering play on Tuesday, Shaw had posted a slash line of .172/.294/.241 through his first 68 plate appearances at the Major League level with a 66 wRC+. From the eye test alone, it seemed that Shaw was not ready to face Major League pitching. Now that the Cubs have collected the initial set of data on Shaw's performance at the Major League level, he likely will return to Triple-A Iowa with some mechanical tweaks in mind.

The Cubs acting quickly to option Shaw back to Triple-A does lend credence to the urgency that the team is acting with during the 2025 season. For better or worse, the Cubs' decision to trade for one year of Kyle Tucker heightened the expectations for the 2025 season. Given what the Cubs gave up in the Tucker, they don't just need to contend in 2025, they need to reach the postseason and be a legitimate contender. Given that expectation, the Cubs won't be giving players extended leashes at the Major League level. If a player is struggling, the Cubs will act quickly to try a different solution.

That's not an indictment of Shaw, either. It's important to note that Shaw only played 35 games at Triple-A last season before opening the 2025 season with the Cubs on the Major League roster. Shaw's prospect profile won't take a hit just because the Cubs determined he needed additional time in the minors before he could be an everyday player at the Major League level.

The full set of Cubs roster moves on Tuesday was first reported by Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network.

With Vidal Bruján taking Shaw's spot on the 26-man roster, the Cubs are also kicking the decision with Workman down the road. As a Rule 5 draft pick, Workman does need to remain on the Major League roster or be sent back to the Detroit Tigers.