The Chicago Cubs have been high on third baseman Matt Shaw for quite some time. In 2025, he got his first opportunity at the Major League level and the results were mixed.
During his rookie season, Shaw ended up playing in playing in 126 games. He was elite defensively, but his struggles at the plate were concerning.
Shaw finished the season hitting 13 home runs, driving in 44 RBI, and producing a slash line of .226/.295/.394.
Was that enough to prove to the Cubs that he could be the team’s long-term third baseman? Probably not, and the offseason rumors are showing that to be factual.
Once again, Chicago has been linked heavily to Boston Red Sox free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Of course, the Cubs were also in on Bregman last offseason before he signed with the Red Sox. That interest has been renewed, which signals a desire from Jed Hoyer and the front office to upgrade over Shaw.
Mar 19, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, JPN; Chicago Cubs second baseman Matt Shaw (6) rounds third base in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Joey Pollizze of Cubs Roundtable offered his thoughts on the situation. He believes that Chicago is comfortable with Shaw having a reduced role in 2026.
“If the Cubs were fully in on Shaw’s growth heading into Year 2, they likely wouldn’t show this much interest in a veteran like Bregman,” Pollizze wrote. “However, the front office seems to be in a position where they are fine with shifting Shaw into more of a reserve role in 2026.”
At 24 years old, Shaw still has plenty of time to get his MLB career on track. The Cubs are still high on him. Wanting to upgrade in the present is not a bad thing.
With Kyle Tucker expected to leave Chicago in free agency, the team will need more offensive firepower. Bregman could certainly help bring that to the lineup. Losing Tucker and having a weakness at the plate in Shaw would not be an ideal scenario.
That being said, Shaw did prove that he can be one of the league’s best defensive third basemen. There will be a role for him on the team in 2026 one way or another.
Report: Cubs sign towering pitcher on minor league deal
Read More
For More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE