No Decision Yet on Matt Shaw’s Availability for Japan
No sooner had a report come about Matt Shaw‘s unlikely availability for the Tokyo Series than the presumptive starting third baseman was declared fully healthy and ready to play in spring games. Though he’s only gotten nine at-bats so far, Shaw hasn’t looked overmatched in the box and his defense at third base has looked very good. Feel free to apply your own small-sample caveats as you like.
But even if he’s at a full-go physically, the Cubs might prefer to maintain his ramp at a more gradual pace rather than have him travel to Japan in a few days. Not only would keeping him in Mesa allow for more reps in minor league games, but it would also delay any necessary 40-man roster moves to accommodate Shaw.
“No decision has been made there,” Counsell said. “Again, we’re getting close, and that means a decision has to be made soon. But we haven’t made a decision there, so I think all things with Matt are still on the table.”
Bruce Levine noted that Shaw will know his immediate fate by Monday, which is when the Cubs head overseas. I’m leaning toward them not bringing him along at this point, but don’t you go thinking this is about service-time manipulation. No matter how many people will try to bring it up, this isn’t a Kris Bryant redux. The most obvious difference is that MLB now has prospect promotion incentives that award additional draft picks to teams that call prospects up early enough to gain a full year of service time and then see them factor in one of the major postseason awards.
The other wrinkle here is that the top two finishers in Rookie of the Year voting are now automatically granted a full year of service time, regardless of how much they actually accrued. Imagine waiting long enough to prevent a player from getting a full year like the Cubs did with Bryant only to watch him win ROY and foil your plans, all while costing you a draft pick. What team would really be that stupid? Other than the Pirates with Paul Skenes, that is.
If the Cubs believe Shaw is capable of competing at the MLB level, it would be asinine for them to stash him at Triple-A Iowa. As such, I think he’ll be with them for the domestic opener in Phoenix even if he doesn’t head to Japan next week.
Ed note: Just in case you were wondering, other PPI-eligible Cubs prospects are Kevin Alcántara, Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, and Cade Horton.
