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The Cubs may end up having to trade Matt Shaw in order to beef up their starting rotation

The Chicago Cubs have raced out to a hot start in the 2026 campaign, as their 29-17 record is pacing what has suddenly become a very competitive National League Central division. There is still a lot of baseball left to be played this season, but there’s good reason to believe that the Cubs are going to be one of the top World Series contenders in the league come October.

Still, despite all the talent this team has at its disposal, it isn’t perfect by any means. The front office has known for quite a while now that the starting rotation is going to need reinforcements, and that is especially true now that injuries have begun to flare up. In order to get the sort of player they are hoping for, though, it sounds like one of Chicago’s most coveted sluggers, third baseman Matt Shaw, may have to be sent the other way in a potential trade.

Cubs Linked to Potential Matt Shaw Trade

Ever since getting selected with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Shaw has been one of the most promising young players in Chicago’s farm system. He found his way to the majors in 2024, and while he endured his fair share of growing pains at the plate as a rookie, he still managed to put up decent numbers when all was said and done (.226 BA, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 17 SB, .690 OPS).

Shaw’s status with the Cubs was thrown up in the air when the team signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract to come in and play third base for them. Shaw can also play at second base, but after the team opted against trading Nico Hoerner over the offseason, that left him without a clear role.

Sure enough, Shaw has played sparingly this season, and while he has improved at the plate (.256 BA, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .728 OPS), he isn’t going to be a consistent starter unless Bregman or Hoerner gets injured. Teams across the league are well aware of Shaw’s standing with Chicago, and it’s beginning to become increasingly likely that, if the team wants a top-line starting pitcher, it is going to have to part ways with the talented third baseman.

“The Chicago Cubs, who are seeking a front-line starter at the trade deadline, may have no choice but to move infielder Matt Shaw, who’s blocked at third base by Alex Bregman and second base by Nico Hoerner. He has been in the starting lineup just 22 times this season,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported.

Should the Cubs Trade Matt Shaw?

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 18: Matt Shaw #6 of the Chicago Cubs prepares for fielding in the top of the seventh inning during the MLB Tokyo Series against Los Angeles Dodgers at Tokyo Dome on March 18, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

The Cubs have experimented with different ways to get Shaw in the lineup, but their commitment to Bregman has been tough to overlook. Third base is Shaw’s native position, and with Bregman sticking around for years to come, it’s going to be a challenge for him to find a way to stick with Chicago, especially as other needs begin to pop up across the roster.

To this point, the front office has resisted trading Shaw, but with the 2026 roster proving capable of achieving some big things, now may be the time to part ways with him. If the end result sees the Cubs land an ace like Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets, it would be tough to say no to this sort of trade, even if Shaw ultimately has to be shown the exit door.