Matt Shaw keeps finding his way into the same offseason conversation, and it’s not hard to see why. The Chicago Cubs have a pitching need to solve, and Shaw’s name has a way of surfacing whenever that topic comes up.
That talk picked up last offseason after the Cubs signed Alex Bregman, and it never really went away. Even when Shaw was hurt at the trade deadline, it still wasn’t a lock that Chicago would keep the former first-round pick. Now, the same idea is back on the table.
The most likely outcome, though, is still Shaw wearing a Cubs uniform next season. With Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ both set to hit free agency, Shaw has a path to a starting outfield job, especially since he has mostly played in the outfield this year.
Still, trade speculation is part of the package. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand put Shaw among the top trade candidates this offseason, pointing to his control and infield versatility as the kind of traits that draw interest. Feinsand also tied that appeal to the Cubs’ need for pitching, which remains a central part of the winter plan.
There’s a strong case, however, for keeping Shaw out of any deal. Injuries limited him to 67 games this season, but he still posted five home runs, a 109 wRC+ and an ISO of .191. The power has been building, and the source of that growth goes back to the second half of last season.
That’s why the Cubs’ search for pitching does not have to end with Shaw being moved. He gives them a cost-controlled option in a corner outfield spot, and he also gives them the flexibility to spend money elsewhere to patch the rotation.
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Cubs Just Made A Pitching Move That Changes Bullpen Questions
The Cubs pitching mix got a notable shuffle this week with Edward Cabrera coming off the 15-day injured list and joining the bullpen for the stretch run. Chicago is making the move with October in mind, giving the right-hander a shorter workload role after his return while trying to preserve enough depth for the final push.
Trent Thornton, meanwhile, goes on the 15-day injured list with a left ankle sprain, and his absence is expected to last until at least the end of the regular season. For a bullpen that has already had to manage moving parts, the timing matters, since Cabreras arrival helps answer one question even as Thorntons setback opens another. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Bullpen Problems Could Push Jed Hoyer Into Unfamiliar Territory
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Jed Hoyer has usually had to make bullpen fixes with shorter-term, lower-cost moves, but this situation could force Chicago into a different lane. San Diego left-hander Adrian Morejon has surfaced as a possible high-end target, a sign that the Cubs may need to think bigger if they want real stability in the late innings, even with the financial and strategic hurdles that come with shopping at that level. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Still Have A Phil Maton Problem They Can't Escape
Phil Matons season with the Cubs is ending the way so many of his recent weeks have gone, with the right-hander headed for knee surgery and out for the rest of the year. He has been on the injured list since July because of knee tendinitis, and the club has already acknowledged that there will be no late-season return to sort through.
The Cubs are expected to share more once the procedure is finished, including the surgery details and a recovery timeline. For now, it leaves another reminder of how difficult this stretch has been for Maton, whose uneven season never really gave Chicago the bullpen help it was hoping to get when it brought him in. [Read more 🡒]