Freak Braves injury could open door to Cubs trade involving Matt Shaw or Nico Hoerner

Alex Bregman's presence at third base — in conjunction with Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch locking down shortstop and first base, respectively — has created something of a logjam within the Chicago Cubs' infield.

There are concerns about how Bregman's contract will age as he gets deeper into his thirties, which could give Matt Shaw another chance to reclaim the starting third base job some time down the road. But, for now, with Nico Hoerner penciled in as the starter at the keystone, Shaw is without an everyday job in Chicago.

It's unlikely the Cubs trade their former top prospect after an up-and-down rookie year, but the possibility does exist, particularly if they can parlay a half-decade of control for Shaw into another quality starting pitcher. If that proves to be the case, the Atlanta Braves could be the perfect partner after losing their star shortstop.

Braves lose Ha-Seong Kim to injury, positioning them to pursue Matt Shaw or Nico Hoerner

Last year, Ha-Seong Kim posted a 73 wRC+ and meager defensive metrics in 24 games for the Tampa Bay Rays, who ultimately placed him on waivers. The Braves claimed him, and while he was better in Atlanta (91 wRC+ while cutting his strikeout rate significantly), he was hardly the player who earned MVP votes with the Padres in 2023.

The Braves somewhat surprisingly gave him $20 million over one year to retain his services in free agency, though he was expected to handle starting shortstop duties in 2026. Unfortunately for Atlanta, those plans are out the window now, as Kim underwent hand surgery that will hold him out for most of the first half of the season.

In the immediate aftermath of the injury, Atlanta quickly picked up former Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo on a one-year, $1 million deal. That means Mauricio Dubón moves into the starting shortstop gig with Mateo picking up reps off the bench. But it's clear there's still room for the Braves to upgrade here.

In truth, Hoerner is the better target for the Braves as a one-year rental with some experience at shortstop, but the Cubs appear to be asking for a king's ransom for their Gold Glove middle infielder. Whether or not Atlanta would be willing to pay that price — even for a 28-year-old star on both sides of the ball — is difficult to say, particularly since they're hurting for pitching depth of their own.

Shaw would be a long-term answer in the infield, and perhaps a replacement option for Ozzie Albies (free agent after 2026, pending club option) at second base. However, he's played all of 37 innings at shortstop above Double-A in his career, and all of that came in Iowa in 2024. Plus, all of his remaining team control would also make him rather expensive to trade for.

The free-agent market for impact middle infielders is barren, so if the Braves hope to find adequate production at short, it'll likely have to come via the trade block. The Cubs have multiple players who could fill that hole, but Atlanta would have to get really aggressive (and creative) in order to make it worth their while.