The Milwaukee Brewers are in position to chase the top seed in the National League, and that means the front office may have to get creative before the 2026 trade deadline arrives. One of the more intriguing possibilities is also one of the rarest: a deal with a divisional rival.
That rival is the Chicago Cubs, and the player who could fit Milwaukee’s needs is utilityman Matt Shaw.
The Athletic’s MLB Trade Deadline Big Board, put together by Eno Sarris, Johnny Flores Jr, Tim Britton, and Chad Jennings, included Shaw as a possible fit for the Brewers. Their read on his situation is pretty straightforward: Chicago has a player with value, but also a roster crunch.
“The 2023 first-round pick has found himself in a super-utility role for Chicago, having played every position this season except catcher and shortstop. A Gold Glove finalist at third base last season, Shaw found himself the odd man out after the Cubs signed Alex Bregman in the offseason.
Second base (Nico Hoerner is signed through 2032) and first base (Michael Busch through 2029) are also seemingly off the table. In limited action, Shaw has posted an above average wRC+.
Pedro Ramirez’s emergence, coupled with the Cubs’ need for a frontline starter, could make Shaw a valuable trade chip.”
That doesn’t mean a move is likely. The Athletic noted that Shaw probably won’t be dealt, and sending him to Milwaukee would be even harder to picture given the division factor. The Brewers and Cubs have not completed a trade since Dec. 8, 2016, when Milwaukee acquired left-handed pitcher Caleb Smith for cash.
Still, Shaw checks a box for the Brewers. He’s the kind of corner infielder who can give a lineup useful at-bats, and his numbers this season back that up: a .737 OPS with four homers, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 56 games and 147 plate appearances.
If Milwaukee were to make the move, Shaw would have a path to playing time right away. Joey Ortiz has not done much at the plate, which opens the door for help at third base.
There’s also the contract angle working against a deal. Shaw still has two more full seasons of pre-arbitration left, so he is earning the MLB minimum right now. That kind of team control makes him valuable, even if the Cubs are weighing other needs.
Shaw is currently on the 10-day injured list with a left hand sprain, but the fit is still easy to see. Whether Chicago would actually deal him to Milwaukee is another question entirely. It would be a notable move if the two clubs finally made their first trade in nearly a decade.
In Other News...
Brewers Make Early Roster Shakeup That Could Hint At Deadline Plans
The Brewers made a quick roster adjustment Tuesday, reinstating David Hamilton from the 10-day injured list and clearing a spot by designating Braden Shewmake for assignment. It is the kind of small transaction that can look routine on the surface, but in Milwaukee it also fits into the larger roster puzzle as the club tries to keep its infield depth intact while preserving flexibility for the weeks ahead.
Shewmake, who arrived from the Houston Astros before the All-Star break, got a brief look with the Brewers and showed the sort of versatility teams value when injuries start to stack up. If he gets through waivers, Milwaukee could keep him in the organization by sending him to Triple-A, a possibility that would leave the front office with one more layer of depth as it weighs deadline moves and eventual returns from the injured list. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Megill Had The Perfect Response To Brewers Trade Buzz
The Brewers are shaping up to be one of the more interesting teams to watch as the trade deadline approaches, with Matt Arnold and the front office expected to take a more aggressive swing than they have in past years. Milwaukee has been linked to help both in the rotation and in the bullpen, and the expectation around the industry is that at least one reliever could be added as the club looks to sharpen the roster for the stretch run.
For Trevor Megill, none of that appears to be rattling the day-to-day job. He has settled in as Milwaukees clear-cut closer after Abner Uribe briefly handled the role earlier this season, and his focus remains on the ninth inning rather than the rumor mill. Still, with the Brewers likely to make bullpen changes before the deadline passes, Megill knows a new face could be walking into the clubhouse soon enough. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Are Circling Detroits Ace And Tigers Fans Know What That Means
The Brewers are already being linked to a more aggressive posture for the 2026 trade deadline, and the early buzz says they are not waiting around to see how the market develops. Milwaukee has talked with Detroit and San Diego about pitching help, a sign the front office is at least exploring the kind of swing that can change a postseason race rather than just patch a hole.
Tarik Skubal sits at the center of the conversation because a pitcher of his caliber would instantly reshape a rotation that has been thinned by injuries. Detroit would not move an arm like that cheaply, and the asking price figures to start with controllable starting pitching plus more beyond it, which is why this feels less like a rumor mill item and more like the beginning of a real test for Milwaukees willingness to pay up. [Read more 🡒]