Cubs' Friday night lineup might have telegraphed big trade deadline move

In case there was any doubt that the Chicago Cubs are still interested in acquiring Arizona Diamondbacks' All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez before the trade deadline, one can just look to the starting lineup the Cubs rolled out against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. Despite having the day off on Thursday and Shaw riding a heater since the All-Star break, the rookie third baseman was not among the starting nine against the White Sox.

Cubs may have just teased a deadline trade with Friday’s lineup shakeup

Vidal Bruján is getting the start for the Cubs at third base, and conventional wisdom would suggest that Bruján is in the final days of being on the team's roster. With the Cubs either looking for a starting third baseman or a bench bat, at the very least, Bruján likely will be the odd man out on the roster after the MLB trade deadline.

Since returning from the All-Star break, Shaw was slashing .474/.474/.947 with 3 home runs and 302 wRC+ in 19 plate appearances. All of those numbers are extreme, but they speak to how impressive Shaw has been offensively since the Cubs resumed play. That said, it's only a six-game sample size, and the Cubs' front office wouldn't use that as a reason to not acquire Suarez, who would immediately be inserted into the MVP conversation given the offensive season he is having with the Diamondbacks.

The Cubs' path to acquiring Suarez became less crowded on Friday after the New York Yankees traded for Ryan McMahon. Despite Shaw's hot streak, the Cubs will remain in the mix for Suarez until he either arrives at Wrigley Field, ready to don a Cubs uniform, or he is traded elsewhere. Shaw not being in the starting lineup on Friday is proof that the Cubs will be strategic with his matchups as he continues his offensive progression.

As for what that means for Shaw, if the Cubs do acquire Suarez, the rookie will likely be moved into an utility role on the bench. Beyond third base, Shaw also has the ability to play second base and shortstop. Circling back to Bruján, he would be rendered useless if Shaw were to move to the bench.

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