Cubs Rumors: Matt Shaw insurance policy confirmed with latest free agency target

With the Chicago Cubs expected to give Matt Shaw the initial opportunity to be the team's starting third baseman for the 2025 season, the expectation had been that the Cubs would look to add an insurance policy for Shaw at third base.

While the Cubs did acquire Vidal Bruján from the Miami Marlins on Sunday, given his minimal amount of success at the Major League level, it seemed unlikely that the Cubs viewed Bruján as the definitive fallback option at third base in the event Shaw struggles to open the season.

We recently mentioned free-agent utility infielder Josh Rojas would check that box for the Cubs and it seems that the team agrees. Mark Feinsand of MLB dot com reported on Monday that the Cubs are expressing serious interest in Rojas.

With the Mariners last season, Rojas played 131 games at third base, followed by 11 at second base, and a handful at the corner outfield spots. Rojas carried 1.9 fWAR with the Mariners last season and that speaks to the defense he offers at third base. With a career 92 wRC+, Rojas' offense won't push him toward an everyday role.

When talking about the Cubs adding a player like a Rojas, the goal in mind is raising the floor of their bench. If the Cubs are going to enter 2025 with the true expectation of reaching the postseason, players like Rojas will be needed.

In other words, Rojas is the player that Craig Counsell and David Ross tried so desperately for Miles Mastrobuoni to be. The reliance on Mastrobuoni over the last two years speaks more to the lack of attention paid to the bench than it does the managerial intellect of Counsell or Ross. While Rojas posted a 91 wRC+ with the Mariners last season, that mark was 55 runs higher than the 31 mark Mastrobuoni had in 2024.