When the Chicago Cubs signed third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, trade rumors immediately began swirling around Nico Hoerner due to the fact that Hoerner is slated to hit free agency next offseason.
The idea made sense. Sign Bregman, trade Hoerner for a monster package and shift Matt Shaw over to second base. But is it possible the Cubs could make a different move entirely?
While jettisoning Hoerner definitely makes the most sense from a financial perspective, it would obviously inhibit Chicago’s chances of winning a World Series this year. So maybe trading Shaw is actually the right play?
A former top prospect, Shaw brings a ton of potential and a whole lot of versatility to the table, so he definitely has value.
On that note, Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib has suggested an intriguing potential destination for Shaw: the Atlanta Braves.
Could the Chicago Cubs trade Matt Shaw to the Atlanta Braves?
The Braves just watched as Jurickson Profar was hit with his second PED suspension, resulting in the All-Star utility man being banned for the entire 2026 campaign. This obviously puts Atlanta in a difficult spot with the season opener just two weeks away, but perhaps the Cubs could have the antidote.
“If the Braves, like the Cubs, believe that Shaw is capable of handling the outfield, he could be an intriguing platoon partner for Mike Yastrzemski in left field,” Campbell wrote. “Shaw could also see time as the Braves’ designated hitter, considering their current option is a non-roster invite in Dominic Smith.”
A former first-round pick, Shaw made his big-league debut in 2025 and slashed .226/.295/.394 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI over 437 plate appearances, but it’s important to note that he posted a .915 OPS in the minor leagues. So clearly, Shaw has a high ceiling.
Even after a disappointing showing in his first major-league season, Shaw still has plenty of trade value, and with the Braves being desperate, they might be willing to surrender a nice return to Chicago in exchange for the 24-year-old.
“To be clear, a Shaw trade with the Braves should be viewed as unlikely, but it speaks to the type of creativity that would be involved if the Cubs were to move their former first-rounder. Especially if it was to a team rich in pitching prospects,” Campbell added.
Of course, this still wouldn’t solve the Cubs’ emerging financial problem when it comes to Hoerner, and considering they would likely be getting prospects in return, it likely wouldn’t do much to move the needle for them in 2026, either.
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