Cubs insider pitches wild Matt Shaw plan if Eugenio Suárez trade goes through

The Chicago Cubs will likely be paying close attention to the Arizona Diamondbacks' games on Tuesday and Wednesday, ensuring that Eugenio Suárez is playing after an injury scare on Monday night. The Cubs remain mentioned as one of the top suitors for Suárez as the MLB trade deadline approaches, and it continues the question of what would become of Matt Shaw if the Cubs add the All-Star third baseman.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that Shaw would move into a utility role on the bench. One of Jon Berti or Vidal Bruján would surely be the odd-man out if Suárez is added by Thursday, and Shaw seems like the obvious replacement--given his ability to play second base and shortstop beyond his work at third base.

Creatively, considering Ian Happ's recent struggles, the Cubs could deploy a lineup that sees Suárez as the team's designated hitter, Shaw at third base, and Seiya Suzuki in left field for certain matchups against left-handed pitchers. That type of creativity, amid the recent offensive struggles of the Cubs as a whole, only adds to the reason why the Cubs should remain interested in Suárez despite Shaw's current hot streak.

Cubs may reshuffle everything for Eugenio Suárez—and Matt Shaw’s the key

Patrick Mooney, however, offered a different potential plan for Shaw if the Cubs add Suárez at the deadline. During a recent mailbag for The Athletic, Mooney suggests the plan may be for Shaw to return to Triple-A Iowa before returning as a September call-up.

"If the Cubs landed Suárez, it’s possible that Shaw would return to Iowa until the roster expands in September, so that he could get regular playing time at Triple A. You just have to wait and see how the roster shakes out after all these anticipated moves. An injury could also disrupt the plans and create a different opportunity for Shaw, whose attitude, defensive growth and offensive improvements have been impressive."

That would be quite the pivot for Shaw, especially after adjustments to his swing have led to impact results since the All-Star break. While there would, in theory, be a benefit for Shaw's development if he were playing every day with the Iowa Cubs, it's not like he would be a forgotten piece on the bench. Between days off and keeping Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner fresh ahead of a postseason run, Shaw likely would still have regular plate appearances.

There's no question that Shaw's role with the Cubs will be impacted if Suárez arrives in the coming days, but a move back to Triple-A doesn't seem that plausible.

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