Cubs Must Upgrade This Position at Trade Deadline to Remain Contenders
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There is no arguing that the Chicago Cubs are a top-five team in MLB this season.
Entering Monday, Chicago was 54-36 and had a four-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Despite injuries to both Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, most things have gone right for the Cubs.
There is, though, one position on the diamond that is in need of a major upgrade if the Cubs want to remain true World Series contenders in the National League.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 3: Matt Shaw #6 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates his game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Wrigley Field on July 3, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 3: Matt Shaw #6 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates his game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Wrigley Field on July 3, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.Third base has been a bit of an issue for Chicago this season. It has started six different players at the position, and none of those have produced nearly as much as they need to. It's minus-0.5 Wins Above Average at the position ranks 22nd of 30 teams.
That includes rookie and Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw. Shaw made the opening day roster but struggled mightily and was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. He was recalled shortly after and after a blistering hot first few weeks back in the major leagues, he has since cooled off again.
Entering Monday, Shaw's average was just .207 with a .581 OPS. He has played stellar defense at the hot corner, but the bat is just not progressing in the way the front office hoped it would.
The combination of Shaw's struggles and the Cubs success makes it utterly important that the front office goes and makes a trade for an offense-first third baseman prior to the conclusion of the trade deadline.
Those options seem to be limited this season, but there are a couple like the Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez and the Marlins' Otto Lopez.
Either of those two would be a major upgrade over Shaw and would make a Chicago lineup that already leads MLB in run differential even scarier.
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