Matt Shaw Taking Reps in the Outfield

[Matthew Lenz]

Following the acquisition of superstar third baseman Alex Bregman, rumors have been swirling about the Chicago Cubs and two of their utility infielders regarding their roles with the team. While it seems unlikely that Nico Horner ends up being traded, Matt Shaw seems like a more likely candidate. Or, maybe they'll just turn him into a super utility…

John Antonoff shared a video via his X account of Chicago Cubs infielder Matt Shaw taking reps in the outfield. However, how deep we can look at that remains to be unclear.

On one hand, they could be getting shot reps so that he can play either corner outfield spot when Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki needs a rest. While both players are strong, offensively, they are both average, two slightly below average, defenders at their respective positions. Shaw's experience in the outfield is extremely limited, while he doesn't have any professional experience, he did appear and left and right field a total of 40 times as an amateur. Depending on how quickly he can pick up outfield defense, he may not be much of a downgrade when half or Suzuki need a day off.

On the other hand, the Cubs could be using this time as an opportunity for teams to see that Shaw in the outfield is within the realm of possibility. 

Do you think the Cubs end up hanging onto Shaw? Let us know in the comments!

View full rumor

[squally1313]

Hopefully they also have Hoerner taking reps at second base

[Hot Sauce]

If Shaw can add more positional versatility, that’s huge! 

[Tryptamine]

I fully expect him to play the Zobrist role this year and if he can, that's hugely valuable. 

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Matthew Lenz said:

On one hand, they could be getting shot reps so that he can play either corner outfield spot when Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki needs a rest. While both players are strong, offensively, they are both average, two slightly below average, defenders at their respective positions.

Happ has won 4 gold gloves in a row.

[Derwood]

5 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Happ has won 4 gold gloves in a row.

at Shortstop?

[Hot Sauce]

Happ and Suzuki should never be mentioned in the same sentence when talking about defense.

[Cuzi]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

Happ has won 4 gold gloves in a row.

He's not a bad defender, but him winning 4 gold gloves in a row is more of an indictment towards the position, and really his league.

[mk49]

2 hours ago, Hot Sauce said:

Happ and Suzuki should never be mentioned in the same sentence when talking about defense.

Why not?  Both are the outfielders for the Cubs.  Seiya won 5 gold gloves (in Japan), one more than Happ.😁

[Hunter]

Isn't Happ's throwing arm the main reason his defense has been considered above average. 

[Hot Sauce]

53 minutes ago, mk49 said:

Why not?  Both are the outfielders for the Cubs.  Seiya won 5 gold gloves (in Japan), one more than Happ.😁

[Development DL]

Good use of Shaw . 162 demands depth and versatility. 

[mk49]

1 hour ago, Hot Sauce said:

Boo me everyday, and boo Tucker twice on Sunday.  Kidding, of course.

[Bull]

7 hours ago, Stratos said:

Happ has won 4 gold gloves in a row.

And yet he's an average fielder at this stage in his career. Maybe B+

[Stratos]

44 minutes ago, Bull said:

And yet he's an average fielder at this stage in his career. Maybe B+

He had 9 defensive runs saved last year.  DRS and UZR/150 love him,  hence the hardware.  OAA and FRV has him as average.

[Geographyhater8888]

Can Shaw play right field?

Edited January 23 by Geographyhater8888

[CubUgly]

10 hours ago, Cuzi said:

He's not a bad defender, but him winning 4 gold gloves in a row is more of an indictment towards the position, and really his league.

Agreed, it's pretty common that teams put their least accomplished fielders in left - Happ does not have much competition to be honest.  I mean one year Yelich and his noodle arm finished second to Happ.....that dude is flat out terrible in left. 

[Bertz]

4 hours ago, Stratos said:

He had 9 defensive runs saved last year.  DRS and UZR/150 love him,  hence the hardware.  OAA and FRV has him as average.

FWIW DRS is based on people watching film (the same as PFF grades in football) while Statcast is based entirely on data using the hawkeye cameras tracking every game.

Everyone's mileage will vary, but I tend to split the difference between the two with infielders, while on the outfield I trust statcast pretty implicitly.  There's a ton of relevant context on a ground ball: speed of the runner, quality of the hop, minor changes in positioning affecting what direction you approach the ball from, other baserunners, etc.  But on a fly ball?  Short of inclement weather how far you had to go, in what direction, and how long you took feels like it covers it pretty thoroughly.

I tend to think this team is fairly incredible up the middle while on the corners it's fairly average, maybe a smidge above.  Shaw's got enough speed I could see him juicing the corner outfield spots pretty significantly, and definitely already does 3B.

[BigbadB]

15 hours ago, Matthew Lenz said:

Following the acquisition of superstar third baseman Alex Bregman, rumors have been swirling about the Chicago Cubs and two of their utility infielders

 

Do you even watch the games? 

[squally1313]

8 hours ago, Bull said:

And yet he's an average fielder at this stage in his career. Maybe B+

How do you think the concept of 'average' works

[Cuzi]

Happ has been smack dab average defensively his entire career save for 2020. His range and arm is as average as it gets and last year he took a huge step backwards in sprint speed. By statcast numbers, since switching over to full time LF duties in 2022 he has a fielding run value of -4. He's a C grade defender and nothing more. You can live with it, but he's certainly not a player you hitch your wagon to when your option is him vs Seiya Suzuki.

[CubUgly]

41 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

Happ has been smack dab average defensively his entire career save for 2020. His range and arm is as average as it gets and last year he took a huge step backwards in sprint speed. By statcast numbers, since switching over to full time LF duties in 2022 he has a fielding run value of -4. He's a C grade defender and nothing more. You can live with it, but he's certainly not a player you hitch your wagon to when your option is him vs Seiya Suzuki.

I would again agree - he is above average at his position maybe??  but that's all relative - as again most teams put their worst fielders in left field. 

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

I would again agree - he is above average at his position maybe??  but that's all relative - as again most teams put their worst fielders in left field. 

No, there is no maybe to it. He is definitely above average for a left fielder. Regardless of him just being an average outfielder, as a whole, he is a very good left fielder. I get the bar is low for left fielders. 

[javy knows my name]

8 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

I would again agree - he is above average at his position maybe??  but that's all relative - as again most teams put their worst fielders in left field. 

Maybe pick a denominator and stick with it

[Bull]

2 hours ago, squally1313 said:

How do you think the concept of 'average' works

 

If you are implying I was equating “average” to B+, try reading again. I was saying he’s probably average, and “maybe” slightly above average. If I had said he C, maybe as high as B+ it may have been more clear.