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

Jordan Campbell

Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners / Christopher Mast/GettyImages

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.

The Cubs are among the teams showing serious interest in INF Josh Rojas, per source. Rojas had a 2.2 bWAR in 142 games for the Mariners last season, starting 106 games at 3B. He has started mostly at 2B and 3B during his career, but can also play SS and both corner OF spots.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 30, 2024

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.

Jordan Campbell

For nearly 15 years, Jordan has been a workhorse across the FanSided network - including being the inaugural site expert for Cubbies Crib, as well as a stop at Da Windy City as the site expert. In addition to returning to be a Co-Site Expert at Cubbies Crib, Jordan was previously the Site Expert at Bear Goggles On. In the years since, Jordan has joined FanSided's full-time team, serving as a staff writer for the MLB division. Jordan's work can be seen across the MLB division, including a consistent presence on our Cubs, Twins, Astros, and Tigers sites. Since 2010, Jordan has dedicated his craft to providing insightful commentary on all things Chicago sports, and he has enjoyed his venture into all things Major League Baseball.