Matt Shaw drawing rave reviews as Cubs may be forced to alter offseason plans

Chicago Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw has been drawing rave reviews for his play with Team USA during the WBSC-Premier 12 tournament.

The tournament has been filled with Major League Baseball's top prospects and after Team USA left with a bronze medal, all eyes were on Shaw and his accolades. While Shaw's offensive success in the tournament does not instantly confirm the notion that he is ready to break camp with the Cubs in 2025, it's a sign that he could be the blue-chip position player that the Cubs have been lacking in this most recent attempt of opening up a contention window at the Major League level.

When the Cubs selected Shaw in the first-round of the 2023 MLB Draft, there was an expectation that he could quickly ascend through the team's farm system. Shaw finished his first full-season in the Cubs' organization at the Triple-A level. Given the Cubs' situation, there shouldn't be a prospect who is untouchable in terms of potential trade talks this offseason but Shaw is likely the only who is close to that category.

Initially, it seemed that the plan for Shaw was to develop as a third baseman with the idea being that would be his position with the team once he reached the Major League level. The development appears to have worked as Shaw was playing excellent defense with Team USA at third base.

Where the plan may have become muddied for the Cubs was the Trade Deadline addition of Isaac Paredes this past offseason. Despite his struggles after the trade, Paredes likely will enter the 2025 season as the Cubs' starting third baseman. That doesn't mean that Shaw won't break camp with the Cubs after Spring Training.

Given how the Cubs have handled their top prospects in the past, it may not be likely that he opens the 2025 season with the Major League team but there may be a path to him doing so depending on the status of Nico Hoerner. Hoerner, a name mentioned in recent trade rumors, is recovering from offseason surgery and the Cubs have yet to provide a timeline for his recovery. Depending on the outcome of either the trade talks or recovery, Shaw could take over as the Cubs' second baseman as soon as next season.

Shaw's hot streak with Team USA reminds the Cubs that they may want to consider altering their approach with their top prospects. While the approach hasn't necessarily been wrong, the Cubs' front office has been cautious to a fault. Brennen Davis's never reaching the Major League level reminds us that caution doesn't always pay off. If the Cubs are going to use the 2025 season as a year to give runway to prospects and hope for the best, Shaw needs to be with the Major League team at the start of the season.