"The Cubs made a major splash over the weekend by landing star third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year deal. As a multi-time All-Star who reliably offers Gold Glove defense at third base and posts offense in the 125 wRC+ range, Bregman is sure to provide a major lift to the club headed into 2026. Strong as the signing is for the team, however, it also creates questions about the future of some of their other players."
"Having too many guys is a good problem to have but it's still worth considering whether the Cubs will do something to break up that logjam in the short-term. If they don't, Shaw is likely to be the odd man out. He has options remaining and could certainly be sent to Triple-A Iowa to open the season, though he could also be carried on the club's bench in a utility capacity."
Alex Bregman signed a five-year deal and projects as a multi-time All-Star with Gold Glove defense and roughly 125 wRC+ offense, boosting the Cubs for 2026. The signing produces a surplus of infielders, leaving four players for three positions. The designated hitter spot and an outfield shift for Seiya Suzuki could mitigate the logjam. Moises Ballesteros appears favored for DH after a strong 2025 debut but remains a work in progress as a catcher. Shaw could become the odd man out, with options to be sent to Triple-A or serve as a bench utility player. Hoerner reaches free agency after 2026, creating a path for Shaw to reclaim second base later. Losing regular major-league at-bats could hamper Shaw's development; he slashed .226/.295/.394 (93 wRC+).
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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