Coming off a 92-70 record and a Wild Card appearance last year, the Cubs are well-equipped to repeat that in 2026. The offense, led by Pete Crow-Armstrong, ranks third in the Majors with a 110 wRC+. While the pitching staff can be improved, Chicago has scored 77 more runs than they’ve allowed, and they currently hold the top NL Wild Card spot with a 59-45 record. Unsurprisingly, the Cubs are approaching the deadline as buyers, as MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk wrote in our Trade Deadline Outlook series for Front Office subscribers.
Utility player Matt Shaw has been floated as a trade candidate at times, and teams remain likely to ask for him in deals for controllable starting pitching. That said, he’s more likely to stay than be traded, given his value as right-handed hitting depth and a potential long-term outfielder. There’s also the matter of Shaw’s health, as the 24-year-old has been on the 10-day injured list since June 29th with a left hand sprain. According to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune, Shaw is not yet able to swing a bat without symptoms. Manager Craig Counsell told Montemurro and others that he will not be activated before the trade deadline on August 3rd.
Shaw has gotten into 56 games this year while navigating the hand sprain and mid-back tightness in late May. In 147 plate appearances, he’s batting .246/.322/.415 and rates as 5% better than average by wRC+. That’s a small sample compared to last year’s 437 PA, but it’s notable that Shaw has upped his average exit velocity by 1.9 mph and his hard-hit rate by 6.8% compared to 2025. While he’s still below-average in both categories, the incremental improvements show that Shaw is at least holding his own against big league pitching.
He’s also added to his defensive versatility. Shaw was worth 12 Defensive Runs Saved at third base last year, but the Alex Bregman signing and Hoerner’s extension blocked him from regular playing time as an infielder. Instead, he’s spent most of his time in right field and acquainted himself pretty well there. In 187 2/3 innings in right, Shaw has been worth 3 DRS as well as 2 Outs Above Average, according to Statcast. Shaw’s ability to provide above-average defense at multiple spots while being around average at the plate makes him a valuable piece of the roster both now and in October.
That’s plenty of reason for the Cubs to continue taking Shaw’s rehab slowly. Minor hand sprains tend to heal in a couple of weeks, while moderate sprains can require a month of down time or more. Shaw is currently at the upper end of that timeline, though Montemurro noted that his sprain has still improved overall, just not to the point of swinging a bat pain-free. Once he reaches that point, the team could give Shaw a short rehab assignment before activating him some time in the middle of August.
Photo courtesy of Michael McLoone, Imagn Images
