The Cubs got a reminder Friday that Matt Shaw’s return is not around the corner.
Craig Counsell told the Chicago Tribune’s Megan Montemurro that Shaw is still weeks away from coming back, with the biggest hurdle being his ability to swing at full speed. Counsell said there has not been a setback, but the recovery has taken longer than the club first expected.
Shaw has been out since the end of June, when the Cubs placed him on the 10-day IL with a left-hand sprain. It was his second IL stint of the season after an earlier absence because of a back issue.
That news lands at a time when Chicago has been rolling anyway. The Cubs have won five straight, were boosted by a strong trade deadline, and have spent the last two months playing like one of the best teams in baseball. They are now 4.5 games behind the NL Central lead and hold a 6.0-game cushion for the top Wild Card spot.
Even without Shaw, the Cubs have found answers. Pedro Ramírez has stepped into a bigger role and produced a .300/.355/.445 line with a .800 OPS across 43 games. Counsell has trusted him more and more lately, and it would be hard to picture the rookie getting shipped back down once Shaw is healthy.
Chicago also added Tyrone Taylor at the deadline as part of the Clay Holmes deal, and he brings some built-in cover for a situation like this. Taylor has hit lefties well this season and can play all three outfield spots.
So while the Cubs are not in a rush, Shaw’s absence still matters. He is the kind of versatile bat and position player you want available when the season is tightening up, even if the club has done a good job keeping things moving without him.
In Other News...
Cubs Outfield Shakeup Could Lead To A Huge Randy Arozarena Move
The Cubs outfield could look very different by the time next season opens, and the possibility of a major rearrangement is already drawing attention. With Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Tyrone Taylor all expected to reach free agency this offseason, Chicago may have a real need to add an established bat and a proven presence in the corners, which is why Randy Arozarena has surfaced as a name to watch.
Arozarena, now with the Mariners, brings the kind of postseason pedigree and star recognition that can change the conversation around an offseason plan. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report sees Chicago as a possible landing spot, and the fit is easy enough to understand even before the front office decides how aggressive it wants to be in rebuilding the outfield. [Read more 🡒]
Clay Holmes Was Already Shaping The Cubs Before This Trade
Clay Holmes arrives in Chicago with the kind of late-season expectation that comes with any deadline addition, but his influence on the Cubs has already been felt long before the trade became official. Before joining the team, Holmes spent part of the offseason helping Ben Brown build out a sinker, a pitch that became part of Browns strong run before injury interrupted it and gave the Cubs another look at how much value Holmes can add beyond his own innings.
Now the Cubs are expecting that same presence to matter in the second half, with Holmes set to debut against the Royals and immediately factor into a pitching staff looking for stability and impact. The trade gives Chicago another arm for a critical stretch, but it also underscores something the organization already knew: Holmes was not starting from scratch here, and the fit has been building in the background for months. [Read more 🡒]