If Cubs Are Willing to Trade Matt Shaw, What Framework Will They Look For?

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of © Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

One of the most intriguing things about this year’s trade deadline is the wide variety of shapes potential deals could take.

Not every move is going to be a straightforward contender adding a rental player for a playoff push. Some teams could look to make bigger-picture moves, trading talented young players who don’t necessarily fit their long-term plans in exchange for help at a more pressing position. Chicago Cubs utility man Matt Shaw is the quintessential example of that type of player.

On the surface, trading Shaw seems like a ridiculous idea. He won’t even be arbitration-eligible until 2029 and could still be viewed as a key part of the Cubs’ future. However, the North Siders also have crowded infield and outfield situations and a desperate need to improve their pitching staff without weakening an already-thin farm system. Because of that, Shaw could become available in the right deal.

The keyword there, though, is "right." Chicago wouldn’t be looking to move Shaw for a short-term upgrade or a rental player. If they were to make a move, it would need to bring back a controllable starting pitcher who could help anchor the rotation for years to come. For a team willing to make that type of offer, Shaw could quickly become one of the more attractive trade targets on the market.

After a difficult rookie season, Shaw has taken some noticeable steps forward in 2026. He’s currently slashing .246/.322/.415, with his OPS sitting nearly 50 points higher than where it was last season. While those numbers may not jump off the page, the underlying improvements have been encouraging. Shaw’s strikeout rate has dropped, he’s making more consistent contact, and he has done a much better job of avoiding pitches outside of the strike zone. Overall, he has looked much more comfortable at the plate compared to a year ago.

That improvement has been especially important considering everything else the 24-year-old has had to deal with this season. After spending most of his career in the infield, Shaw has been forced to adjust to a new position in right field. That transition, as well as two separate stints on the injured list, have made for some adversity, but the results have been much better than many expected. He currently grades out as an above-average right fielder in both range and arm value, and his athleticism has been a major reason why the transition has gone smoothly. Shaw’s 91st percentile sprint speed allows him to cover plenty of ground in the outfield, and it also makes him a legitimate threat once he reaches base. His ability to take an extra base adds another element to his overall game.

Meanwhile, their pitching staff has been absolutely decimated by injuries. The Cubs currently have 12 pitchers on the injured list, enough to nearly build an entire rotation and bullpen out of unavailable arms. Adding pitching help has to be one of their biggest priorities. However, because Shaw is still under team control for several years, this wouldn’t be a move made simply to patch a short-term problem. The return would need to address a long-term weakness.

That’s why a team like the Cleveland Guardians immediately stands out as a potential trade partner. Cleveland currently sits at 51-46 and remains firmly in the playoff picture, but their outfield production has been a concern. Their current right fielder, Kahlil Watson, has posted an OPS of just .562 this season. Watson is still young and has plenty of time to develop, but adding someone like Shaw would immediately give the Guardians more offensive flexibility and likely better short-term production. Additionally, Cleveland’s lineup features only one true right-handed hitter in its everyday group. Adding Shaw would give them another right-handed option and allow them to play matchups more effectively.

The question, of course, is what the Cubs would want in return. A player like Tanner Bibee could be the type of arm Chicago targets. Bibee recently signed a five-year, $48 million extension with Cleveland that runs through 2030, and the structure of that deal could make him appealing to the Cubs. The contract is back-loaded, meaning Chicago would not be paying him more than $7.4 million annually until 2029. That gives them a quality starting pitcher without taking on a massive financial commitment immediately.

Bibee, who is 27 years old, owns a career 3.90 ERA and profiles as a dependable middle-of-the-rotation starter, exactly the type of pitcher the Cubs need. Would Cleveland actually move him? That’s a different question. The Guardians are known for their ability to develop pitchers, and losing Bibee wouldn’t completely cripple their plans. They have consistently found ways to build a strong pitching staff, which could likely make them more willing to consider a deal involving a controllable starter. If a trade like this happened, it’s possible one side (more than likely the Cubs) would need to add a prospect or cash considerations to balance things out. But the framework of a Shaw-for-Bibee deal is at least interesting.

The Cubs may ultimately decide that keeping Shaw is the better move given their long list of impending free agents. And yet, in the here and now, their need for pitching help could mean trading Matt Shaw is not nearly as unrealistic as it may sound. If the Cubs can turn an outfielder they don’t necessarily need into a controllable starting pitcher they desperately do, it’s a move worth considering.

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[tornmeniscus]

Id trade him in a NY second if I thought he might bring even an inkling of controllable pitching. His batted ball metrics remain abysmal despite the convenient small sample size. He is bad at fielding despite the media narrative creaming over his supposed versatility which fails to make up for his putrid baseball IQ. Im quite certain hes the dumbest player I've seen play for the cubs since Ryan Theriot 

[Rcal10]

7 minutes ago, tornmeniscus said:

Id trade him in a NY second if I thought he might bring even an inkling of controllable pitching. His batted ball metrics remain abysmal despite the convenient small sample size. He is bad at fielding despite the media narrative creaming over his supposed versatility which fails to make up for his putrid baseball IQ. Im quite certain hes the dumbest player I've seen play for the cubs since Ryan Theriot 

While I would trade him for controllable pitching I do not agree, at all, that he has a low baseball IQ. I think he leaned third base quickly and has also learned the outfield pretty quickly. Any other mention of him being dumb is not baseball related so I am staying away from that. 

[Bertz]

Bibee's interesting, most of his numbers say back-end starter but you look at that Z-Contact rate like

Matt Shaw is the presumptive favorite for one of the open corner outfield spots next year.  And he's set to do that while making the league minimum.  So IMO to trade him IMO you need to both A) get someone back who cheaply fills a 2027 hole and B) feel like you're selling high on him (i.e. you think he has a below average bat when not getting generous platoon duty). 

I'm tending towards bullish on Shaw's offense, so I'm tending towards finding it hard to find trades I can justify.

A trade from Chicago to Cleveland of young RHH bats for young arms does feel like a pretty glove perfect fit this deadline though, even if Shaw feels too rich for my blood.

[Rcal10]

22 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Bibee's interesting, most of his numbers say back-end starter but you look at that Z-Contact rate like

Matt Shaw is the presumptive favorite for one of the open corner outfield spots next year.  And he's set to do that while making the league minimum.  So IMO to trade him IMO you need to both A) get someone back who cheaply fills a 2027 hole and B) feel like you're selling high on him (i.e. you think he has a below average bat when not getting generous platoon duty). 

I'm tending towards bullish on Shaw's offense, so I'm tending towards finding it hard to find trades I can justify.

A trade from Chicago to Cleveland of young RHH bats for young arms does feel like a pretty glove perfect fit this deadline though, even if Shaw feels too rich for my blood.

Guardians do have some controllable pitchers that could be interesting. And Hawkins does know their system and people in that FO. Wouldn’t be upset mid Shaw for one of their young pitchers was something done. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

I have always had a lot of faith in Shaw and he has improved. He's actually really good at 3B. I think he would provide a good amount of value at 3B defensively, but he won't get that chance. His bsr should be pretty good. But im not sold on the offense as the contact quality is still very mehhhhhh. I would prefer to trade him than Pedro as crazy as that sounds. I believe Pedro will have a pretty good career, I just feel his contact rates and contact quality will provide a stronger floor. Id prefer to trade Shaw, Alcantara, and maybe even Mo before Pedro. Is that crazy? Before this season I never would have put them in that order but Pedro showed out in AAA in a different way than those guys did; he had a really well-rounded approach and an enviable contact quality to match it.