"The Cubs had agreed to a six-year extension with second baseman Nico Hoerner, one of the most underrated players in the game. Getting a deal done made sense for both sides; the Cubs would have a very difficult time replacing Hoerner's all-around contributions and his value on the open market probably wouldn't be commensurate with his talent."
"Matt Shaw, who no longer has a position in waiting, was pushed off the hot corner by Alex Bregman. That leaves Shaw as either a long-term utilityman or a full-time outfielder should Ian Happ and/or Seiya Suzuki not sign extensions of their own."
"Barring his development into a legit outfielder, I see a trade out of Chicago as the most likely scenario at this point. If that's the case, Jed Hoyer is going to need to solve for the corner outfield spots after this season."
The Cubs' early season loss should not be overreacted to, as it does not affect the overall season outlook. The team has extended second baseman Nico Hoerner for six years, which is crucial given his underrated contributions. This extension impacts Matt Shaw, who loses his potential position at second base and may need to transition to a utility role or outfield. A trade for Shaw is likely if he does not develop as an outfielder, necessitating solutions for corner outfield spots.
Read at Cubsinsider
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