Matt Shaw is unlikely to be ready to start the season at third base, leading fans to wonder who will man the hot corner when Opening Day rolls around. Not only is Shaw down, but Nico Hoerner doesn’t seem to be on a path to playing either. While the Cubs have a lot of depth, there aren’t too many bench players capable of replacing regular starters for a significant period of time.
Jon Berti is a lock to make the roster, with the versatility to play several infield and outfield spots if needed. Gage Workman didn’t appear to have a fantastic chance to stay on the team when camp opened, but his hot start and Shaw’s recovery opened the door quite a bit wider. Justin Turner easily has the most experience of the group, though he has only played 13 games at third over the last two seasons. Lack of playing time aside, Bruce Levine reports that he’s getting stretched out in case they need him to man third early in the season.
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Cubs Justin Turner said he is getting his arm stretched out in anticipation of being ready as a backup to play 3B. He has played only a handful of games at Third since 2022.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 26, 2025
Even if his glove is a little suspect at 40 years old, Turner is a valuable bat to have in the lineup. His 117 wRC+ and .327 wOBA in 139 games last year were impressive, especially for someone of his age. When signed, the general expectation was that he would just back up Michael Busch and take some time as the designated hitter. With Shaw’s injury getting him off to a slower start than the team had hoped, Turner may be the next best choice. Levine still talks about Turner as a backup option, however, leaving the starting position up for grabs.
After a hot start this spring, Workman may force his way into the starting role. He has one home run, the Cubs’ first of the spring and against a lefty to boot, and four runs batted in so far. Aside from the solid offense, his great defense makes him a front-runner to get early reps at third. He’s made several good plays already, with more sure to come.
Workman is now 2/3 with a single and a two-run home run. Impressive start for the 25 year-oldpic.twitter.com/0sP18QZMG9 https://t.co/hsmn7ZhSno
— Jacob Zanolla (@jacobzanolla) February 20, 2025
Putting Berti or Vidal Bruján at second base with a combo of Workman and Turner holding down third until Shaw is healthy probably makes the most sense. Some have mentioned Busch as a possible option to move across the diamond, but the Cubs have been adamant in their belief that he’s a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman. With several different variations to choose from, Craig Counsell isn’t likely to choose one that would deplete the defense in two spots.
This will continue to develop over the next two weeks as the Cubs prepare for their absurdly early start to the season, after which they’ll still have more spring games before restarting games that matter.
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