Matt Spiegel

If they put him in AAA, Marshall, they want to trade him.

Because you just said it, Layla.

Prospect pedigree.

A utility player is not as valuable as a guy that you can call a first-round prospect who is getting his work in AAA worldwide.

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, 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 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, 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 the Cubs are deeming as a go-for-it year this year.

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-Grody on 104.3 The Score.

Is Matt Shaw going to go back to being a...

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 uh when he was on with mullion 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 like can he hit or not can he hit or not because let me tell you something