Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - What will Matt Shaw's role be in the Cubs' lineup this season?

Episode Date: February 23, 2026

Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote discussed the latest Cubs storylines coming out of spring training, including utilityman Matt Shaw's role.

Rahimi Harrison Grody The great Kevin Harlan I just pulled through the Taco Bell Drive-thru and I've got a couple of big nasty Supreme Burritos right here waiting to beat. You know the first thing they ask you now are you using the app.

The app, no, I just want my burrito. I don't want to use an app. Bring a lot of mild sauce because I'm going to escort it all over the plate. Put some hot sauce on my burrito, baby. Rahimi Harris and Grotie, Midday's 10 a.m. to 2 on the score.

This is Rehemi. I'm Harrison Grotie on 104-3, the score. And Moises by Astero's finally able to go to Cubs camp. He is in Mesa, and Craig Counsel said that he would swing the back, quote, casually, end quote, over the next handful of days as he gently increases his workload. In the meantime, we try to figure out who's going to play where? Who's on first? What's on second? I don't know.

I was on third. I can't remember the other positions. Gross, you're the comments. comedy guy. Yeah, I couldn't think of the next line. You guys took the two good lines. We're gatekeeping the good stuff. Yeah.

Yeah, I can't quote it past that right now. But that's kind of how I feel like spring training is for the Cubs. Apparently, we're not the only ones. Listen to what Bruce Levine, our baseball reporter, had to say to Zach Zadman and David Hall this morning about the jigsaw puzzle that is trying to fit Matt Shaw, Moises by Astero's say Suzuki's bats in this lineup. Shaw is much more quiet. You know, watching him in backfields and then in the game yesterday.

He is not as much movement. He talked about keeping his head on the ball. You know, it seems like a simple process for us novices, but in reality, he just felt like when he's, when he's not hitting, he's jerking his head off of the ball. a common thing for hitters when they're off also just less movement in the lower half just a very brief step forward the bat speed guys is among the elite in baseball so this guy should really hit and and i think he will now that he's open to accepting new ideas about his hitting and you know we'll see i mean if there's not an injury it'll probably be

400 bats for him, you know, somewhere between third, second, short, right field, you know, we don't know about injuries, but you know, anything less than that, I think, is

something that's going to impede his progression as the young player. I just don't think you make a 24-year-old guy into a utility guy. doesn't make sense to me.

I think let me just say this. If he was the number three pick, right? And he wasn't touted. I think there would be consideration that he starts at AAA. Hmm. Because there's really not a spot for him. You might go out and get yourself a veteran backup for the infield. You seem to have enough outfielders.

Alcantra needs to have a chance. He's running out of options here. Is he really a, a good player in your organization, or is he somebody that they missed on? So let's be real about the situation. But because he's the number one, because he played third base and they pushed him off there going to get pregnant, I think they're putting him in this super utility role and convincing us verbally that that's going to happen.

You're going to have to show me it's going to work. If that's the case, the Cubs should not place Matt Shaw's development ahead of winning. If he's not ready to face major league pitching, he should be at Iowa. They should find a better alternative. They should not worry about developing a first-round draft pick. I didn't say he wasn't ready for major league pitching. I'm saying there's not a spot for him. I mean, where does he play?

He is your guy that you pointed out could get 400 of bats moving between Rye Field second and third and D.H. And D.H. Yeah. So, I mean, again, you only see a limited amount of left-handed pitchers, starters. You know, Suzuki's going to be your starting right fielder. You have Alcantra, who's the second best defensive player in the CUB organization behind PCA. So again, it's, you know, I'm not trying to push him out. I'm just saying I believe in Matt Shaw,

but I believe he's got a hit at 24. He's, you know, is, is it a horrible thing if he went down to AAA and got ready in case somebody got injured there and he got all his advancing? That's all I'm saying. So here's where I sit with this. I think Bruce is spot on when it comes to, because of his value to the organization and his prospect pedigree, I do think that there is a responsibility on the team's part to develop him. And I'm not saying that they should.

I'm saying that it might be one that they put on themselves. The flip side, though, is, and this is an extreme comp, which is why it's not exactly the case. But you don't let this turning into him being, Castro, you know? You don't want this turning into him being a utility guy who's helping give everybody else the day off. And I don't necessarily

know that sending him to AAA is the best idea either. I think they want to trade. If they put him in AAA, Marshall, they want to trade him because you just said it, Leila, prospect pedigree. A utility player is not as valuable as a guy that you can call

a first round prospect who was getting his work in AAA, who did have value on the major league level. So if, and Bruce did not say this, I'm saying this, if they are to start him and leave him in the minor leagues, they're shopping this guy. Well, I think the other thing is, because first round pedigree says a lot. Remember, this guy was the 13th overall pick when he was drafted. He was a standout at Maryland, a standout nationally. And every level of baseball as a minor leaguer, he has hit. He had an O.P.

OPS over 1,000 when it came to the South Bend in the Midwest League, high A, in AA and AAA, an OPS over 929 and 24. That was his OPS, 929 and 2024. Gets the chance at the big league level. This is a team obviously competing. It has a horrible start. But a lot of players who have gone on to good all-star careers have a horrible start when they start. It just feels like he has less margin for error because of what.

what the Cubs are deeming as a go-for-it year this year. And with the years of control, which are insanely valuable, more so than they've ever been, I think, in Major League Baseball, the years of control, when you figure how teams are, I wouldn't say hoarding prospects, but how they are valuing them, and you consider that 2027 piece being up in the air, the years of control being so critical, that's what makes this really, really tough.

you don't want to waste one of those. You don't want to have him be stuck. You want her to have value because you placed value on him as well. You traded away Cam Smith. So that was your other massive name. So you're stuck. And when he said that, I'm like, Willie Castro is not the comp.

That's not what I'm saying. It's extreme. But you don't want him to turn into, is the development balance with the utility concept, enough to get the best use out of the talent you have? or is it enough to even if the scenario is trade, are you developing him enough to get a sufficient or acceptable trade value, knowing how many years you have with your top prospect?

This, for me, guys, comes down to something maybe very simple as we discuss Matt Shaw's role on the 2026 Cubs here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. Is Matt Shaw going to go back to being a true pure hitter in the way that he was at every other level before he got to the big leagues last year. We heard Bruce in that interview when he was on with Mullian Hall

talk about how his head had gotten more still. The bat speed is still there. You're still getting the miles per hour off the bat. So can he hit or not? Can he hit or not? Because let me tell you something. Moises biosteros wanted me to tell you. If you can hit, they'll figure out.

They'll figure out a place for you in their lineup. She's like Tommy Lestella. Just get out of bed, hit 98 miles per hour. You saw him last year. No, I know. Even in the limited time. I know. Look, Shaw, the Cubs did not want to have to have Matt Shaw start last year,

or they would not have gone after Alex Bregman like they did last year. They did not want him to be their starting third baseman this year, or they wouldn't have gone out and signed Alex Bregman. And then to all of a sudden put him into Utility Man Wasteland, that doesn't sound like a good idea for your prospects. So I'm sticking with that if he does start in the minors, this is a guy. And I think Spiegel, like, during Spiegel's report, didn't he say that

report that the Cubs had talked to the Red Sox? I want to make sure I get this right. So I'm not misquoting Spiegel, but talk to the Red Sox as it relates to Matthew Shaw. So it's already out there that the Cubs may have already tried to shop him.

So what better a place to keep him secure and getting better than the minor leagues? Well, in addition to that, wasn't the conversation originally about Nico Horner? And they're like, while we have you on the phone. Yes, exactly. Can we discuss this as well?

And to that point, here's my thing. If there's no baseball next year or limited baseball next year, the thing the Cubs have is they don't know whether or not Nico Horner is going to be a Cubs pass this season. If he's not, Matthew Shaw is a very viable option at second base. It would seem. He's already played it in spring training. Here's the whole thing. Like, if he'd be a very valuable piece to this Major League roster.

But we're looking at him as the player, as a former first round pick as a player who you can't call it on. yet in terms of is he an everyday player. So it's really going to be interesting to see how they use. Like I've had my choice, like selfishly in a year in which we all kind of think the Cubs are going to win and get back into the playoffs. Yeah, keep them on the big league roster for this year. And we wouldn't be in this if the Cubs just come correct. Last off season with Alex Pregman, that's a lot of pressure off Matt Shaw.

If he's just starting the season in AAA last year where he had dominated the year before because you decided to not be third on. who's trying to pay Alex Bregman a year ago? Well, and also the clock that started. You know, that's not as much of an issue now with the new CBA, but it did start when they decided to bring him up. It wasn't a Chris Bryant situation when they were waiting for the arbitrary deadline. You know, that's different.

But now that he's up, I don't think sending him back down is the best idea either. But I agree with these guys. You know, I agree with the concept that David brought up and that Bruce was talking about. That doesn't mean that your development comes at the price of a team who is clearly out to, as Tom Rickett said, win World Series. Multiple. World Series. That would be at least one World Series. Beyond the 2026 season.

That's right. Hey, get back. Beyond the work stoppage. So I think they're trying to just be prepared for whatever lies ahead. But I don't know the relegating him to utility is the best use of everybody. his time either. So we're not going to be the best thing for Shaw. Well, hold on.

Is it relegating? Like, I don't know what this Matt Shaw's mental makeup is because, let's be honest, he hasn't had a lot of adversity before last season in baseball. He had just been dominant in baseball. And so I wonder if he can overcome the idea of today, you play second base tomorrow, you come off the bench the next day you're in right field. I am intrigued and interested to see how he handles that as a player. But one thing he needs to do, regardless of where he is in the field is, not take his fielding to the plate with him.

And go back to hitting like you were hitting before last season with the Cubs. And you bring up Lestella, and you know what that reminded me of, Mark? The Chris Coglin, Lestella, somebody had to be in the minor leagues on a World Series team situation that the Cubs had in 2016. That was tense. Yeah. Yeah, I know it was. And Lestella, too, actually, starting at third. base against the Pittsburgh Pirates because of his ability to hit 98 with movement.

But yeah, I mean, the whole thing is, and somebody's texting here from the 3-1-2, can Shaw become Zobrist? Of course, that's the dream. But Zobrist becoming Zobrist was over many years before he became this, obviously, this super utility guy who was a made man, essentially, he was a made man by the time he came to the Cubs and was able to play multiple positions. but that's the name that always pops up, of course. Well, and Zobris did not have the career with the organization who drafted him.

In the career? That was, yes, Rome, yes. That was the Astros. You know, who's with the Astro system before he ended up going to Tampa. Yeah, before he ended up coming here. Yeah. Also, 312 on the text line. Uh-huh.

What you got? Might be time to option shot of the miners and let him learn how to stay out of triple plays on the basis. Yeah, what was that? It was not good. I can tell you that. It's a triple play. You know what's really funny, too, is you know the first thing I think of because I'm baseball old lady.

How do you score that on your box score? If you're keeping score at home. I was not keeping score at home of a spring trading game. I'm just going to get that out right now. It started 9-6, right? I think I wrote it down. 9-6. Did you really?

I did. I did write it down. So I have it here officially. Oh, good. Oh, you did. Okay. But I would like to hear your recollection of this. Well, I don't.

Was it the short. stop at the second base when you threw through. That's all I need to know. It was right fielder, so it was, it was, uh, so say, so it's, it's just listed as a single on MLB.com which is stupid. Four, three, six, five? Wait, wait, no, no. But it started with nine. It was fly ball to right field. Okay. So that's, that's, that's nine. Oh, no, no, he was a, it was a single. Say a single, fly ball to right field. That's not an out. Oh, single is not an out.

So then, I got that. It's a newer type of thing. No, here, here's what it says, though. Here's, here's why this is so wheels off. Sayy Suzuki singles on a fly ball to right field or Zhang Holi. Sayas Suzuki flies into a triple play. Second baseman Luis Arias to first baseman Raphael Devers to shortstop Willie Adamas. So that's 4-3-6 to third-baseman, Matt Chapman, 5. Matt Shaw out at third, five unassisted, Alex Bregman out at third. Sayas- Suzuki out at first, three out.

But hold on. Why is it not 9-4-365? because the single, he's the first person to touch the ball. But that's not an out, though. It doesn't need to be an out. Somebody has to touch the ball first. It's like if I... Technically, he flew into a triple play.

If I hit the ball to you as the pitcher, it goes off of you, and then the second baseman throws it to first, that's scored as one, four, three. You see what I'm saying? I guess. If it hits you, if you touch the ball. Right, right. That's the second base is cutting off, right?

A single is a single. Yes, single is a single. So how is that an out? How is it not, how is that an out? I don't like that. No, I'm saying everybody who touches the ball, though, right? Oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah.

But I have it down as 4365. Is that what you have it down as? No, because it's MLB.com and I'm just reading. So is it 9, 4, 3? Well, because it says flies into a triple play, which is akin to what Marshall is saying. And by the way, this, this discussion of baseball minutia from a failed play that ended up being a triple play, can I just tell you a lot? This is what I'm here for.

I love it all. I needed this. I needed to know how to score a fake game on a play that was clearly a player error. And that's what resulted in some sort of triple play. I enjoyed the triple play, especially when I realized, oh, they don't, Matt Shaw doesn't know. And then Alex Brighman kind of looks at him like. Scotty doesn't know. Yeah, sorry.

Sorry about this, Bregman. Sorry. Did you see the way they looked at each other? Like, why are you coming off the bag? Ope, oh. We didn't want you to have to be a part of this. this kind of thing this early on in your cubdom. But hey, and they were even asked about it afterwards.

Exactly. Exactly. If you're going to have, that's what I would say about spring training. And even like preseason NFL, get all your bad plays out of, I want to see errors. I want to see bad triple plays. I want to see guys being late. All that, like get it all out of your system before the season starts. So good.

Also, you know who was a part of it because you're asking yourself, well, wait, isn't there, say, is somebody who helps on the coaching staff at third base to kind of like tell the runners when to go and when not to go. Quittenberry was turned the other way. I'm like, we're three days into this and I have to ask what Quentin Berry was doing. We went through this way too many times last year. The third base coach cannot be the story multiple times in a year. How many games did that cost them?

Three to five. May more? You're going to go the over. I mean, go ahead. No, I can't say it. That's outrageous. When you consider Kyle Tucker is a five-war player. That's a good question.

What is the limit for times that you want to hear about the base coaches in a consequential way throughout a season? That's one. That's one, Quentin Berry. Where do you set the over under, though? Two, three? How many errors is a third base coach allowed to make during a season? Just turn your body and not your head.

And then you've got angles on both. Oh, man. Like what? don't do it don't become waven wendel kim that's the last the the previous third base coach to quentin barry back in the day that i can remember being way too much of consequence i just can't believe i'm here again already coming up next on rahimi harrison grotie it's halftime i have a story for you two that is taken over the internet i think we can identify with him that's next