Matt Shaw, your table is ready.
Chicago Cubs 2024
Paredes’ numbers with Cubs were actually pretty similar to his numbers with TB last year except in one area — extra base hits. With TB he had 19 doubles. 1 triple and 16 HRs. With Cubs in almost half as many AB, he had only 6 doubles and 3 HRs. He is a dead pull hitter and Trop is only 315 down LF line compared to 355 at Wrigley. He’s a career .230 hitter with his highest season average only .250. So if he’s not hitting HRs, his value goes well down.
I think it is reasonable to assume he should show better in coming year without having to deal with a mid season trade, but he’s very unlikely to reach his season high of 30 HRs playing half his games in Wrigley. Tops may be 20 and more likely closer to 15. Basically he’s a fairly competent 3B who allows Cubs to not have to rush a prospect. He can also play 1B and even a little 2B, which gives the Cubs some flexibility when a prospect does take his starting job.
Definitely not a long or even mid-term solution at 3B, but if he can field the position and improve his hitting some, he’s not a terrible stop gap. Rather see Cubs spend money/assets elsewhere to improve roster and hope a prospect can put him on bench sooner rather than later.
If Shaw proves he's ready I just hope the Cubs let him have a legit shot at winning the job. I suspect he would make a fair competition a hard decision.
I looked at his stats and was surprised that he was an all-star. I can't see it happening again.
He'll never break camp with the team because of free agency rules (see Kris Bryant) but could be up as early as May if Paredes soils the bed.
More Arizona Fall League news from Chris Clegg on a Cubs prospect. Depending on where they see Matt Shaw fitting, Long could end up being a trade chip for Cubs. But Shaw could play 2B with Long at 3Bin the future.
Jonathan Long, 3B, CHC, 22
Long blasted his fifth AFL home run on an opposite-field shot to right field in the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, the Mesa comeback train ended up just short as they dropped the game to Salt River 13-11. Long added a second hit on the night as well.
During the regular season, Long enjoyed a massive breakout in 2024 between High-A and Double-A, posting a .283/.391/.461 slash with 17 home runs and 21 doubles.
Putting up solid exit velocities, Long has shown the ability to get the ball in the air, with a 61 percent air percentage. The biggest flaw is that Long needs to pull the ball more. In Double-A, the pull rate was just 24.6 percent, something we would like to see improved. The 90th percentile exit velocity of 105 mph is above-average and he is capable of getting to home run power.
————————-
If you’re not familiar with Long, here’s another blurb about him.
Believe it or not, Shaw wasn’t necessarily a no-brainer [for Cubs minor leaguer of the year] despite how incredible his season was.
On the positional side, Jonathon Long really could’ve given Shaw a run for his money. The 22-year-old corner infielder, taken eight rounds after Shaw last year, hit pretty well at High-A South Bend before EXPLODING after a midseason promotion to Double-A Tennessee: .340/.455/.528/189 wRC+. Shaw gets the edge from me for some of the counting stats and doing it a higher levels, but Long’s breakout at the plate should not be ignored.
Jonathan Long, 3B, CHC, 22
Long blasted his fifth AFL home run on an opposite-field shot to right field in the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, the Mesa comeback train ended up just short as they dropped the game to Salt River 13-11. Long added a second hit on the night as well.
During the regular season, Long enjoyed a massive breakout in 2024 between High-A and Double-A, posting a .283/.391/.461 slash with 17 home runs and 21 doubles.
Putting up solid exit velocities, Long has shown the ability to get the ball in the air, with a 61 percent air percentage. The biggest flaw is that Long needs to pull the ball more. In Double-A, the pull rate was just 24.6 percent, something we would like to see improved. The 90th percentile exit velocity of 105 mph is above-average and he is capable of getting to home run power.
————————-
If you’re not familiar with Long, here’s another blurb about him.
Believe it or not, Shaw wasn’t necessarily a no-brainer [for Cubs minor leaguer of the year] despite how incredible his season was.
On the positional side, Jonathon Long really could’ve given Shaw a run for his money. The 22-year-old corner infielder, taken eight rounds after Shaw last year, hit pretty well at High-A South Bend before EXPLODING after a midseason promotion to Double-A Tennessee: .340/.455/.528/189 wRC+. Shaw gets the edge from me for some of the counting stats and doing it a higher levels, but Long’s breakout at the plate should not be ignored.
Last edited:
“Free agent pitcher Kyle Hendricks has agreed to a one year, $2.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.”
A $14 million paycut; wow. So much for Jed's "intelligent spending"
Good for Kyle! I would do a crappy job for someone for $2,500,000. Maybe he will surprise us and do a good job. I'll be rooting for him.