In landing Kyle Tucker, the Cubs solved their star problem.

The move, though, created a hole at third base.

Isaac Paredes was acquired ahead of the trade deadline in July with the expectation that it would solve the third base conundrum they had faced since trading away Kris Bryant in 2021.

But the Astros had long been admirers of the 25-year-old third baseman, even inquiring about him in the days following his move to Chicago. So, when Tucker became available, the Cubs were OK including Paredes in the deal. In a way, trading for Tucker solved two problems for the Cubs.

[MORE: Behind the Kyle Tucker deal: The timeline and why Cubs took the gamble]

It netted them their star player, but it also created pathways for playing time for some of their top prospects, some of whom are on the doorstep of the major leagues. Atop that list is Matt Shaw, the Cubs 2023 1st-round pick who might be in pole position to be the starter on Opening Day in Japan at the hot corner.

“I think making room for young players is really important,” Hoyer said on Tuesday afternoon. “I mean, he has to earn that job. I’m not going to gift him that job on a conference call in the middle of December.

“But, certainly, with what he’s done in the minor leagues since we’ve had him, he’s played really well.”

[READ: Kyle Tucker on possible extension talks with Cubs: ‘I’m open to anything’]

Since the moment he started playing affiliate ball last season, Shaw has displayed an innate ability to hit. In 159 games and 693 plate appearances in the minors, the 23-year-old has slashed .303/.384/.522 (.906 OPS) with 29 homers, 28 doubles, 46 stolen bases and 99 RBI.

It’s a similar path the Cubs have taken recently with another top prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong. The center fielder had a taste of the majors in 2023, started the year in the minors and, after having nothing more to prove in the minors, was given a runway at the big-league level. It wasn’t pretty at times, Crow-Armstrong struggled mightily in 2024, but he ended the year strong and put himself in position to be the starting center fielder and a key piece in 2025.

[WATCH: 1-on-1 with Jed Hoyer on Cubs offseason moves]

The Cubs believe Shaw could follow a similar path at third base.

“He’s banging on the door,” Hoyer said on Cubs 360 on Tuesday. “He has to earn it but at the same time, I do think it’s important – you gotta break in young players. It’s not always a perfectly straight line when you do it but you gotta commit to them and allow them the freedom to go play.

As Hoyer mentioned, though, this is far from a guarantee that Shaw will be the Opening Day third baseman and will start most of the games there. Internally, besides Shaw, the Cubs have Gage Workman, who they took in last week’s Rule 5 draft. Workman, 25, is on the 40-man roster and as part of a Rule 5 pick, must spend the entire season in the majors or be offered back to Detroit before being optioned to the minors. That puts him in line to make some appearances at the hot corner.

Primarily a shortstop in the minors (303 starts), his second most-played defensive position is at third (135 starts). He is a lefty bat that gives the Cubs a different look than Shaw or the rest of their middle infielders who hit right-handed. In 126 games at Double-A in 2024, Workman slashed .280/.366/.476 (.843 OPS) with 18 home runs, 29 doubles and 89 RBI. Miles Mastrobuoni, another lefty, could figure into the role, too. He’s made 36 starts in the big leagues at the hot corner.

The Cubs will also comb through trade or free-agent options for the position.

Last season, the Cubs brought back Mike Tauchman and Cody Bellinger in the outfield for cover and in 2023 added Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer at first base to provide cover for Matt Mervis.

A veteran, depth option would give the Cubs cover in case Shaw, Workman or Mastrobuoni struggle in spring or if an injury occurs. Plus, an infielder, especially a left-handed hitting one, could allow Counsell to maximize matchups and rotate players like Shaw, Workman, Mastrobuoni, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, keeping them fresh and giving opposing pitchers different looks.

“In general, in the infield, I think that’s something we’ll be looking at,” Hoyer said. “Obviously, trying to round out the rest of the team [and] make sure that we think about our different redundancies in different areas to try and make sure that we don’t feel exposed at any one position is really important.”