Matt Shaw, Alex Bregman at the forefront of Jed Hoyer's latest comments

There is a small but loud portion of the Chicago Cubs fanbase that is under the belief that Matt Shaw is already a perennial MVP candidate in the National League. Whenever potential moves were discussed for the Cubs this offseason, the same segment of fans were quick to point out how the Cubs needed to make sure Shaw was left with a spot in the starting lineup. There certainly is a scenario where Shaw does become the next staple of a Cubs' contending team but we are not at that point just yet.

Among the biggest takeaways from Jed Hoyer addressing reporters at the start of Spring Training is that the Cubs aren't simply going to hand Shaw a starting spot because he is their top prospect.

Jed Hoyer sounds off on Matt Shaw, pursuit of Alex Bregman

“It will be a competition this spring for sure. I don’t think we’re in the world of anointing a rookie and giving him a job. I think he’s gonna have to win a job," Hoyer added when talking about Shaw and who will be the Cubs' Opening Day third baseman.

Of course, Shaw is looming in the background of the heaviest rumor involving the Chicago Cubs at the moment. The Cubs are at the center of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman's free agency, with the prevailing belief being that the front office is looking for creative ways to add the third baseman. It's clear, the latest reporting from Patrick Mooney of The Athletic being proof of that, the Cubs feel that adding Bregman would put them over the top as a contender in the National League.

Hoyer was asked about the Cubs' pursuit of Bregman but sidestepped the question. Two things can be true: The Cubs want Bregman but, at the moment, Bregman wants a long-term deal of six years or more. Given how the process with Scott Boras and Cody Bellinger played out in the Cubs' favor last Spring Training, there is a fair assumption to make that the Bregman charade will end with him being the Cubs' third baseman. We're not at that point, however. Even with Bellinger, remember Spring Training games had already begun before he signed back with the Cubs last season.