Cubs Promote Matt Shaw, James Triantos, Kevin Alcántara to AAA Iowa
The Iowa Cubs may have the best lineup in all of minor league baseball now that the organization has made the overdue decision to promote a trio of top prospects to Triple-A. As initially reported by Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register, Matt Shaw (No. 2 Cubs prospect on MLB Pipeline), James Triantos (No. 4), and Kevin Alcántara (No. 6) are all expected to join the I-Cubs for their series in Omaha on Tuesday. This was confirmed by Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner on Sunday evening.
All three have spent the entire season to this point at Double-A and had proven for the most part that they had nothing left to learn at that level, but the Cubs seemed content to bide their time. While production alone should have been enough for Shaw and Triantos in particular to have made it to Des Moines earlier, the impetus for these promotions came in large part due to needing room on affiliate rosters for recent draft picks. Once those newest additions to the organization get their feet wet in the Arizona Complex league, those who are ready will need spots in Myrtle Beach or even South Bend.
That sends ripples up the line, forcing players into new locations or creating the need for other moves. Spots can open in other ways as well, like with the very unexpected news that utilityman Bryce Windham had retired. One of the most beloved teammates you’re ever going to see, Windy was primarily a catcher but had spent a lot of time all over the diamond for Iowa. You have never seen a bullpen as fired up as when their favorite backstop makes a play just adjacent to them in right field.
I don’t know what Windham’s specific situation is and I know he won’t read this, but I’d like to personally wish him nothing but the very best in whatever’s next.
It remains at least mildly disappointing that Jed Hoyer didn’t clear more 40-man spots at the trade deadline, thus limiting the possibility that some of these guys will be added for a late-season cup of coffee. They did have a spot open before claiming righty reliever Trey Wingenter off waivers from the Red Sox in what struck some as a real head-scratcher. Then again, it’s not like the Cubs can’t make some personnel decisions over the next several weeks.
Among the recent promotions, Shaw seems most ready for the big leagues immediately. After joining the org as the Cubs’ top pick in last year’s draft at No. 13 overall out of Maryland, the infielder has dominated at each stop and probably should have left Tennessee weeks ago. It took him a little while to get rolling, but Shaw is slashing .395/.425/.632 with a 200 wRC+ and four homers over his last 88 plate appearances.
Triantos is likewise tearing up the Southern League with a .300/.345/.437 slash line to go with seven homers, five triples, and 18 doubles. Alcántara is looking solid with a .271/.342/.409 line that includes nine home runs, but the power numbers are a little disappointing. That could be partly attributable to the Southern League — which has served as a testing ground for MLB’s baseballs — using balls with less pop, all the more reason to get the kid to Iowa.
Those three alone are worth the price of admission, then you consider that Owen Caissie (No. 3) and Moises Ballesteros (No. 5) are already with the I-Cubs. Top prospect Cade Horton is technically there as well, though he’s still dealing with a lat strain and hasn’t yet gotten back to throwing competitively. That means all six of the Cubs’ top-ranked prospects are at the same level, just a step away from Chicago.
Whether and how the front office decides to get them there this season or beyond remains to be seen, but it’s pretty safe to say we won’t see them all sporting Motorola batwing logos on their sleeves in the future. The acquisition of Isaac Paredes solidified the infield, making it tough for Shaw or Triantos to get a spot. The outfield is likewise full for the next few years — even if Cody Bellinger opts out — so Caissie and Alcántara are stymied. Ballesteros probably has the clearest path given the Cubs’ struggles at catcher, but the stout youngster needs a bit more work on his receiving skills before getting significant run behind the dish.
But wait, didn’t Jed Hoyer say the answers had to be internal? It seems like malpractice to make a statement like that and then refuse to bring the young guys up. Unless, that is, those internal answers come from trading stud prospects for legitimate impact players on other teams. Given the positional gluts laid out above, it’s a given Hoyer will have to move several current prospects and/or big leaguers either this offseason or by next year’s deadline.
To that end, you have to think Alexander Canario will be included in a lot of talks. I know a lot of folks will want to point at David Bote and Miles Mastrobuoni as being imminently expendable, but you don’t want Shaw and Triantos coming up to serve in those roles. When you hear Hoyer talk about threading the needle, this is exactly what he means. That’s a problem largely of his own making, however, as the front office has been far too passive when it comes to picking a lane. The result is a mediocre team with too many borderline-immovable players and a trove of prospects with nowhere to go.
There may be worse problems to have as an organization — like losing 20 games in a row and having a baseball ops team that appears to be out of its element — but I don’t envy the Cubs having to navigate this inflection point. They’ll look great if they manage to produce a regular contender once again, it’s just that there doesn’t appear to be a simple path between here and there.
In the meantime, the I-Cubs should be fun as hell for the rest of the season or at least the next few weeks.