After a slow start to the MLB offseason, the Chicago Cubs have picked up their pace over the last week. First was the trade for Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, but that move was quickly followed up by the signing of Alex Bregman
For much of the offseason, the rumors about Bregman have been loud. Even last offseason, the Cubs attempted to sign Bregman but came up short to the Boston Red Sox.
This time around, Jed Hoyer and the front office were willing to pay up to get their guy. Bregman received a major five-year, $175 million contract, although some of the money was deferred. Now, the question remains, is Chicago done making roster moves?
The signing of Bregman hints that the Cubs could still make another move. Either Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw could be available with Bregman locked in long-term.
Keeping that in mind, Shaw has been named the most likely trade candidate by MLB insider Keith Law of The Athletic.
“The Cubs now have one infielder too many, and they’re going to end up trading someone. The most obvious candidate is Shaw, whose rookie season was a disappointment at the plate thanks to some frequent mechanical changes and, according to people I’ve spoken to, resistance to help from the Cubs’ staff,” Law wrote.
“He also made his priorities clear when he left the team during the pennant race to attend a political rally, missing a game the Cubs lost 1-0.”
The Chicago Cubs Have Plenty of Options
Shaw would likely be an intriguing option for quite a few teams around the league. He is just 24 years old and has shown elite defensive ability.
Unfortunately for Shaw, Chicago had to make a move due to his bat. Shaw only hit 13 home runs to go along with 44 RBI and a slash line of .226/.295/.394 in 126 games last season.
As the Cubs try to compete for a World Series run, they simply didn’t have time to wait for Shaw to develop.
Another option could be trading Nico Hoerner. He has garnered plenty of interest over the years and would bring in a nice return for Chicago. However, he is much more ready to be a high-impact piece of the puzzle this season.
Regardless of what the Cubs choose to do, they look the part of a contender after the Bregman signing. Now, they simply need to figure out what they want to do with their surplus of infield talent.
Chicago’s 2026 Lineup Is Looking Scary
FanGraphs has shared a projected look at how Chicago could look from a lineup perspective in 2026.
1. Michael Busch, 1B
2. Alex Bregman, 3B
3. Ian Happ, LF
4. Seiya Suzuki, RF
5. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
6. Carson Kelly, C
7. Moises Ballesteros, DH
8. Dansby Swanson, SS
9. Nico Hoerner, 2B
That lineup would place the Cubs among the top World Series contenders in baseball. From top to bottom, Chicago would be able to create a lot of scary matchups for opposing pitchers.
It will be interesting to see what the Cubs choose to do. Signing Bregman gives Hoyer plenty of options. Fans should not be surprised if either Horner or Shaw isn’t on the Opening Day roster.
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