Latest Chicago Cubs injury immediately makes failed Alex Bregman pursuit look worse

Alex Bregman reported to Boston Red Sox camp on Friday morning, one day after Jed Hoyer talked about the Chicago Cubs' failed pursuit of the All-Star third baseman.

Bregman represented a unique opportunity for the Cubs in that Hoyer did not expect an All-Star caliber position player such as Bregman to still be on the market on the eve of position players reporting Spring Training across Major League Baseball. While some took the Cubs' pursuit of Bregman as a sign they were in need of a third baseman, it was more about the team looking to add a talented player who had seen his market develop slowly.

The Cubs still very much believe that Matt Shaw is capable of being the Opening Day third baseman and given the other options on the Major League roster, Shaw undoubtedly will be the starter at the hot corner when the Cubs play the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan next month. That is, of course, assuming there isn't an injury at hand.

With position players officially reporting, Craig Counsell revealed to reporters on Friday that Shaw is dealing with an oblique injury. As was the case with the oblique injury Javier Assad suffered earlier this week, it seems that the Cubs did dodge a serious injury with Shaw.

Of course, the timing of the injury could have been better considering the thought exercises still being had over the Cubs' failed pursuit of an All-Star third baseman.

Matt Shaw's minor injury should still create some urgency for the Chicago Cubs.

Nevertheless, the injury to Shaw should remind the Cubs that their bench very much is the weak spot of the roster. If any of Vidal Bruján, Jon Berti, or Gage Workman are forced into everyday roles, it would speak to the unserious approach Hoyer had in filling out the roster. The Cubs are approximately $30MM from the first level of the luxury and while major moves have all but been ruled out ahead of Opening Day, an addition to the bench seems likely if not inevitable.

A recent report from The Athletic has linked the Cubs to Justin Turner, Mark Canha, and J.D. Martinez. With the Cubs also in need of a backup first baseman, it would seem likely that Turner and Canha would be more of the priority over Martinez. Regardless of which of the three it is, assuming it is one of them, it would be a relatively inexpensive move and one that doesn't require Hoyer to kiss the hand in the way that he had to do for a potential Bregman signing.