Despite potential veteran acquisitions, management remains unwavering in its belief in Matt Shaw's future impact and defensive prowess for the Cubs.
There are question marks about what Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw’s role will be next season.
With the Cubs supposedly interested in both Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez, the front office appears to be looking to upgrade the third base position this offseason. That could mean Shaw takes a backseat in 2026.
If the Cubs acquire either Bregman or Suarez in free agency, Shaw would likely be more of a super utility specialist next season. He could fill in at third base, shortstop, second base, and maybe even get some reps at designated hitter.
What’s even more interesting is if the Cubs sign Bregman to a four to five-year contract. That would ensure the All-Star third baseman is locked into the Windy City for the next few years, meaning there is really no place for Shaw to play in the coming seasons.
As a result, the front office could then turn around and trade Shaw for a frontline starter before the 2026 season. It’s these types of decisions that the front office is likely discussing behind the scenes as we head into the heart of the offseason.
However, both Craig Counsell and Jed Hoyer still have a ton of confidence in the player that Shaw can be in the Major Leagues.
"Matt had a very good first season in the big leagues,” Counsell told Marquee Sports Network. “[He's] just getting better defensively. He's gonna be one of the better third basemen and compete for Gold Gloves at some point... Matt's gonna be an important part of the 2026 Cubs team."
Added Hoyer: “I've been surprised by the number of media reports that link us to different guys. There is zero lack of confidence in Matt. I would say the opposite."
While the Cubs would never publicly say anything negative about their young third baseman, it is a bit eye-opening that they are interested in two hitters who play his position. It just shows that maybe they aren’t fully confident in his bat next year.
Shaw only hit .226 with 13 home runs, 21 doubles, 44 RBI, and 17 stolen bases across 126 games in his rookie campaign. For a team that has World Series aspirations, those numbers might not cut it for the team.
Nevertheless, Cubs fans should believe that Shaw will only get better in 2026 and beyond. He did show some good things offensively at times -- like when he hit .339 with seven doubles across 17 games from May 19 to June 7 -- and was only two homers away from a 15-15 season as a rookie.
So, there is reason for Chicago to still be confident in Shaw heading into 2026. Cubs fans saw Pete Crow-Armstrong struggle in his first full season in the Majors before breaking out in 2025 with a 30 home run, 30 stolen base campaign.
While Shaw likely won’t finish with those types of numbers, he could follow a similar trajectory as Crow-Armstrong. He now has one full season under his belt, and that experience could make him a more impactful offensive player next year.