The Chicago Cubs spent some significant time and money this offseason crafting a solid roster built for a deep postseason run, centered around impact, stability, and depth.
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The big new names, of course, were three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman and emerging powerhouse starter Edward Cabrera. The team also restocked their depleted bullpen with four free agent relievers (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, Hunter Harvey), retained pitchers Shota Imanaga and Caleb Thielbar, and picked up first base depth piece Tyler Austin (among other moves).
The Cubs’ recent signing of former All-Star outfielder Michael Conforto, however, has revived talk that they might not be done wheeling and dealing. Specifically, the idea of trading Matt Shaw has once again popped up in Cubs baseball discourse.
What signing Conforto could mean for Matt Shaw
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Chicago signed the soon-to-be 33-year-old Conforto this past Monday to a minor league deal that could end up being a $2 million contract if the veteran outfielder makes the Opening Day roster. The contract, under even the absolute best case scenario, is a prodigious fall from his $17 million salary last season with the Dodgers, where he had a horrendous year (12 home runs, .199 batting average in 486 plate appearances) and was absolutely lambasted by Dodgers fans and media because of it.
However, underlying metrics make the case that the 10-year veteran could possibly have a rebound year. Even in a career-worst 2025, he hit the ball hard, didn’t chase bad pitches, and had a top-tier walk rate. He’s not someone who can play the outfield every day anymore, but a low-risk gamble on Conforto’s ability to contribute as a fourth outfielder and left-handed bench bat is a smart move.
The possibility of a Conforto rebound, though, might tie into the future of the Cubs’ 2023 no. 1 draft pick, Shaw.
Shaw’s Cubs future
As of right now, the plan is to use Shaw, who was moved from his third base spot by Bregman, as a super utility player. Aside from his more comfortable roles at third and second base, the 24-year-old has been taking reps in the outfield. Although the Cubs do have a few options for the much-needed fourth outfielder slot (Kevin Alcantara, Justin Dean, Dylan Carlson, Chas McCormick), being able to fit a multi-purpose Shaw into that role would be ideal from a roster management perspective.
Unless, of course, Conforto is able to come back and play like his post-prime self in 2024, when he hit 20 home runs with the Giants and had a near-league average .237 batting average.
A return to form for Conforto, along with concrete inroads to a Nico Hoerner extension, could make Shaw supremely dispensable, especially if the return in a trade would help address current Cubs roster needs.
More value as a trade piece?
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report, for example, has recently proposed a Cubs-Royals trade centered around the Cub:
“Shaw is a third baseman by trade, but he has ample pro experience at second base and has recently been prepping for a move to the outfield. And while his defense carried him as a rookie for most of 2025, he ultimately came through with a .839 OPS in the second half.”
The Royals have a good amount of young, major league-ready pitching talent that could entice the Cubs, especially with veterans Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga possibly leaving via free agency at the end of this coming season.
And if the Cubs spend to retain free agency-bound second baseman Hoerner, there would really be no place for Shaw as an everyday player. At that point, he’d have more value as a trade piece than as a member of the 26-man roster.
All of this is working on the assumption that Conforto can force the situation or that Shaw won’t light things up and win more playing time for himself. It’s still too early to make any such calls.
But, for the Cubs, it’s certainly good to have these kinds of options.
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