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There’s always a Minor League angle.

Throughout this offseason, clubs have made big-money signings or pulled off blockbuster trades to improve the quality of their Major League squads, and that should be the focus of every front office this time of year. But there are trickle-down effects to those moves too. There might be new MLB openings for prospects to seize this spring, or what once looked like an opening might now be filled by a free agent or trade pickup.

It’s been a delightfully productive offseason for the most part to this point, and there are still more moves to come with five weeks remaining before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training. For now, here are a few notable prospects who have been affected by offseason transactions (excluding those involved directly in trades):

Matt Shaw, INF, Cubs: Chicago picked up Isaac Paredes in a late July trade and moved him again five months later as part of a three-player package for Kyle Tucker. Superstars, even those with one year remaining before free agency, aren’t available all the time, so the Cubs should be applauded for going for it, but it did open up third base for the taking. As it stands, Shaw -- the Cubs' No. 1 prospect and No. 22 on MLB's Top 100 -- should be the beneficiary. The 2023 13th overall pick enjoyed a strong first full season, with a .284/.379/.488 line, 21 homers and 31 steals in 121 games between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. His wRC+ was above 140 at both stops. Despite being just 5-foot-9, Shaw can hit for at least above-average power, and he proved at Triple-A that he can handle pitches inside the zone. While he has experience at both middle-infield spots, the former Maryland star has the quickness and reactions to be an average defender at third. He’ll have some competition there in Rule 5 pick Gage Workman, but Shaw will have every chance to win the job outright for a team in win-now mode.

Owen Caissie/Kevin Alcántara, OF, Cubs: Two more Top 100 prospects from the Chicago system, albeit on the other side of that Tucker trade. Alcántara (Cubs No. 6/MLB No. 67) might be the one most directly affected considering he’s the one with Major League experience, having debuted in late September. He has the above-average speed for center, but there might not be a defender in baseball right now who would push Pete Crow-Armstrong away from the middle of the grass. Tucker slots directly into right field, opposite three-time Gold Glover and franchise mainstay Ian Happ. Alcántara was already an outside contender for an Opening Day spot, but now, a return to Triple-A seems even more likely to get much-needed at-bats. Same goes for Caissie (Cubs No. 2/MLB No. 34), a left-handed slugger with plus-plus power potential and a strong throwing arm who was just added to the 40-man roster at 22 years old. Outfield depth isn’t a bad thing, but it might take an injury or another trade for these two to see major MLB playing time in the first half of ‘25.

Edgar Quero, C, White Sox: Switching focus to another Windy City farm system, the White Sox pipeline gained much-needed depth in the Garrett Crochet trade with the Red Sox, picking up Top 100 talents Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery as well as new Top 30 additions Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez. Teel is the focus here because he’s a catcher with Triple-A experience, much like Quero (White Sox No. 6/MLB No. 59). In fact, the two have almost equal playing time at the Minors’ top level (28 games for Teel, 26 for Quero). Again, Minor League depth isn’t a bad thing, even truer for a rebuilding organizations, and chances are this will sort itself out in time. But in the short term, White Sox officials will have to: a) have to balance the workloads of two Top 100 prospects in Charlotte; b) send one to Double-A in the name of playing time; or c) push one to the Majors ahead of schedule. Presumed starter Korey Lee shouldn’t hold back that final option too long, but it may not be in Chicago’s best interest to push prospects too quickly if they aren’t truly ready.

Drew Gilbert/Ryan Clifford/Jett Williams, OF, Mets: Three of the Mets’ five Top 100 prospects either have outfield listed as their primary or secondary positions. You may have heard that New York signed generational hitter Juan Soto for 15 years and $765 million. So that’s one outfield spot locked down in Queens for both the short and long term. Gilbert (Mets No. 3/MLB No. 74) is the only one of the three to play as a full-time outfielder, and while he has enough arm to play right (Soto’s spot), it’s worth wondering if he’ll get more looks in center, where New York has a more pressing need. He has plenty of offensive work to focus on after posting a .684 OPS in the Minors during an injury-riddled 2024. Williams (Mets No. 2/MLB No. 52) could still get looks in center too because he was already bumping into Francisco Lindor at short, but if he shares a Syracuse roster with Gilbert, maybe he sprinkles in more time at second base. Clifford -- a 21-year-old with plus power but contact issues -- might be watching the Pete Alonso transaction wire closely since many believe the Mets' No. 4 prospect (MLB No. 87) headed to first base long-term anyways.

Jacob Misiorowski/Craig Yoho, RHP, Brewers: Milwaukee dealt closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last month before he hits free agency next year, and it doesn’t hurt that it has two closer-quality prospects who ended last year at Triple-A Nashville. Pitch for pitch, Misiorowski (Brewers No. 3/MLB No. 80) has some of the nastiest stuff in the Minors, with an upper-90s fastball, low-90s slider and mid-80s curveball, but his command remains spotty. The comp has long been a right-handed Josh Hader, though Milwaukee seems intent on trying him out at starter a little longer. It’s always possible the org could flip him back to the bullpen (as it did in Triple-A in 2024) and make him a weapon straight away. Yoho (Brewers No. 21) is a pure reliever and the Minors’ most effective one last year, with a 0.94 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings. His upper-70s changeup might be the best in the Minors and a sweeping slider could be Major League-ready already too. Expect him to compete for an MLB spot out of spring and perhaps a larger role if his 2024 results carry into his second full season.

Jasson Domínguez, OF, Yankees: Could the Martian finally land a full-time gig in the Bronx? Soto’s decision to head across town and Alex Verdugo’s free agency meant the Yankees were down two starting outfielders from the 2024 World Series. One spot has been claimed by the addition of Cody Bellinger, though it’s possible he could get some looks at first base. Barring other moves, left field seems there for the taking for Domínguez (Yankees No. 1/MLB No. 14), who went 10-for-56 (.179) in 18 MLB games last year, if he can look more like his toolsy Minor League self in Spring Training. His power would play in left field, if he can get more consistent defensively in that corner, and his speed could spell Bellinger in center when needed.