Cubs Face Roster Dilemma as Top Prospect Matt Shaw Return
A key Cubs prospect is making a strong case for a return to the major leagues, but his promotion may come at the cost of exposing a recent front office miscalculation.
Back in late December, the Chicago Cubs acquired utilityman Vidal Bruján from the Miami Marlins in exchange for first baseman Matt Mervis and cash considerations. At the time, the trade wasn’t particularly controversial — the Cubs were seeking depth and versatility off the bench, and Bruján fit the bill.
A switch-hitter with speed and defensive flexibility, the 27-year-old had logged innings at nearly every position across the field, including shortstop, second, third, all three outfield spots, and even pitched twice during his time with the Rays and Marlins. He was, in theory, the ideal plug-and-play piece for a team aiming to solidify its bench.
But there was one catch: Bruján was out of minor-league options. That meant if the Cubs ever wanted to send him to Triple-A, they’d be forced to designate him for assignment (DFA), which would expose him to waivers. Any team could claim him, and Chicago would risk losing Bruján for nothing — effectively giving away Matt Mervis and cash in the deal.
Now, that exact dilemma may be looming.
Matt Shaw, the Cubs’ 2023 first-round draft pick and No. 1 prospect, appears ready to make his way back to Wrigley Field. After a promising spring earned him the Opening Day nod at third base, Shaw struggled in his first major league stint. Over 18 games, he hit just .172 with 18 strikeouts in 58 at-bats, leading the Cubs to option him to Triple-A Iowa on April 15.
“We want to get a productive player back,” manager Craig Counsell said at the time. “Sometimes you have to take a step back to do that. At this level, it’s about production. You give guys time, but we saw enough to know he needed a reset.”
Initially, Shaw’s struggles followed him to Iowa — he went 1-for-17 in his first five games. Iowa co-hitting coach Rick Strickland noted that Shaw’s confidence had clearly taken a hit, but the young infielder didn’t let that derail his determination. Strickland credited Shaw’s resilience and natural hitting instincts for helping him bounce back.
“He’s a hitter,” Strickland said. “It was just about getting that mental reset more than anything.”
That reset seems to have worked. Starting April 26, Shaw caught fire, going 12-for-22 with five walks over a six-game stretch and raising his Triple-A batting average to .277. Now, he looks ready for a second chance at the majors — and the Cubs know it.
“He’s ready,” Strickland said. “He’s ready to go back.”
But the Cubs face a tough decision: who makes room for Shaw?
If the team opts to recall him, Bruján may be the odd man out. With no minor-league options, the Cubs would have to DFA him — making him available to every other MLB team via waivers.
That would open the door for Chicago to lose him entirely, and in doing so, publicly admit that the Mervis-for-Bruján trade may not have panned out.
This situation underscores the complexity of roster management in modern baseball. The Cubs must weigh short-term depth against long-term development, deciding whether to stick with a versatile veteran or make room for their top prospect’s second chance.
Either way, the decision will reflect not just on the front office’s roster strategy but also on their willingness to pivot when a move doesn’t go as planned.
As Shaw continues to knock on the door, the Cubs may soon be forced to open it — even if it means Bruján is shown the way out.
