A scary reality heightens the importance of the Cubs needing Matt Shaw

Third base has been a clear weakness for the Chicago Cubs this year. Although the team is managing the deficiency and finding a way to score a ton of runs without production from the hot corner, this internal option may be the only hope to get at least average output from the position in the coming years.

That internal option is the team's No. 1 prospect, Matt Shaw. Shaw began the season as the Cubs' starting third baseman, but was demoted to Triple-A after posting a .172/.294/.241 slash line in his first 68 plate appearances. But the demotion is not a testament to Shaw's future outlook, and the Cubs are confident that he will improve at the plate after his initial exposure to Major League pitching. Shaw is far from the first top prospect to get sent back down, only to return and find success later.

At the very least, Shaw proved that he can make the routine plays at third, provide excellent speed on the basepaths, and utilize good plate discipline (14.7% walk rate). With all that being said, there is some pressure on the 23-year-old to figure things out because there are very few options at the Cubs' disposal.

After Gage Workman was designated for assignment, Jon Berti is set to get the most playing time at third for the time being. The 35-year-old is servicable, but he's not a particularly great hitter or defender (60 wRC+ in 36 plate appearances this year). Berti is fine for now, but having him at third every day is a glaring weakness for the Cubs' lineup, so the Cubs are hoping Shaw's stay in Iowa is relatively brief because there isn't another clear answer.

There aren't many third baseman available

Within the Cubs' system, Ben Cowles and Chase Strumpf are both capable of playing third base. Strumpf is not a realistic option for the MLB team, though, as he is a career .232 hitter in the Minors. Cowles could get an MLB call-up this year as the 25-year-old is already on the 40-man roster, but he profiles more as a utility man, and his play at third base has been described as erratic. Shaw is far and away the best internal option.

Outside the organization, there is a dramatic lack of third basemen. This year's trade market will be highlighted by St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. Even at 34 years old, Arenado is still a fantastic defender, and he's enjoying a solid year at the plate (.800 OPS). But with two additional seasons of team control on his contract, the Cardinals could look to get a decent haul of players for Arenado if they even decide to move him this deadline.

But an in-division trade like this is not realistic since the Cubs' front office would be sending top prospects to one of their main rivals. It would sting to see someone like Owen Caissie (Cubs No. 3) or Kevin Alcantara (Cubs No. 6) hitting home runs against the Cubs for the next decade, just to get a couple of seasons out of Arenado when he is way past his prime.

The only other team outside of the Cubs' division that will likely not be contending this year, and that has a relatively "suitable" third baseman to trade, is the Colorado Rockies. Ryan McMahon has been with the Rockies organization for his entire big-league career, where he has developed into a consistent 20+ home run threat while playing excellent defense at third. The 30-year-old also has a solid career walk rate of 10.4%, and he routinely produces exit velocities close to the league leaders.

There are deficiencies to McMahon's game, though, as he strikes out a ton. McMahon's career strikeout rate is 29%, and he is generally a below-average hitter with a career wRC+ of 89. Even with those flaws, having McMahon in the Cubs' lineup, where he would theoretically be the sixth or seventh-best hitter, wouldn't be terrible. Especially if he's providing above-average defense at third.

But the price would have to be right. McMahon still has two more years on his contract, and is owed $32 million from 2026-27. Trading for him wouldn't be cheap, and I don't think he would move the needle enough to warrant sending multiple top prospects to the Rockies.

It's a similar situation for next year's free agent class. The best third baseman set to reach the open market will be Eugenio Suarez, who will be 35 next year. Even though Suarez has looked like Babe Ruth against the Cubs this year, the veteran is currently seeing major regressions on defense, at the plate, and on the basepaths so far in 2025. The other options include Luis Urias, Paul DeJong, and Yoan Moncada, who could all be considered worse replacement-level players.

At the end of the day, Shaw appears to be the best option for the Cubs in the short term and for the next few years to come. The 23-year-old still has plenty of time to figure out his swing, and he has the demeanor to take the assignment with grace and work on improving his skills for the betterment of the team.