Cubs’ best Matt Shaw trade fit might be the last team fans would expect

Though Nico Hoerner has been the most oft-mentioned trade candidate for the Chicago Cubs in the wake of the Alex Bregman signing, Matt Shaw is the one who was actually displaced by the veteran third baseman.

Given Hoerner's proximity to free agency (one year) and Shaw's half-decade of remaining team control, it makes sense as to why the former has been the focus of most discussions. Still, the Cubs would be significantly worse without their starting second baseman in 2026. Shaw's absence would be felt from a depth standpoint, but it wouldn't drastically lower the team's World Series odds.

Now that Eugenio Suarez has signed with the Cincinnati Reds, not many teams are in need of a third baseman... except for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who were also a finalist for the 34-year-old slugger.

It may feel dangerous to trade a former top prospect to a division rival, but the Cubs and Pirates were in trade talks as recently as last year's trade deadline. Their rosters are strong matches for one another, and there's real reason to expect some smoke to emerge from this fire.

Pirates, Cubs align shockingly well on hypothetical Matt Shaw trade

The Pirates haven't been shy about trading within the division — their third base hole was created when they sent Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Reds — and the Cubs have a tantalizing piece for them to target in Shaw.

Of course, the 24-year-old's rookie campaign wasn't a banner one, as he hit just .226/.295/.394 (93 wRC+) through 126 games in the majors. There were prolonged slumps and even a stint in Triple-A to help him get his mind right, but when Shaw is on, he's a tough out. In particular, he carried the offense for long stretches in August, posting an .839 OPS and 127 wRC+ in what proved to be his best month as a rookie.

There's real upside worth betting on — his wRC+ in Iowa is over 140 — and the Pirates may be the team willing to take that gamble. They've significantly upgraded their offense this offseason, adding Ryan O'Hearn, Brandon Lowe, Jake Magnum, and Jhostynxon Garcia. The top prospect in baseball, Konnor Griffin, is also on the way, giving the Buccos real talent to build around in the lineup for the first time in a decade.

Still, their projected Opening Day third baseman, Jared Triolo, is far better suited for a utility role. Having someone like Shaw (who has a strong glove at the hot corner) would solidify nearly every spot in the batting order.

And, for their trouble, the Cubs could pilfer one of the Pirates' many talented young arms. Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler are out of the question, but a deal for Braxton Ashcraft, Thomas Harrington, or even Jared Jones shouldn't be impossible to work out, even if it requires Jed Hoyer to include a few sweeteners on top of Shaw.

Keeping Shaw around and deploying him as a utility infielder is a viable plane. Perhaps it's even the best one, considering that Hoerner could leave town via free agency in a year's time. But the chance to move the young third baseman for win-now talent is one that may prove too intriguing to pass up, even if it requires an up-and-coming division rival to play ball.