Two Realistic Options, Two Longshots as Cubs Track 3B Market
Even though the Cubs currently lead the NL Central with the All-Star Game in sight, holes across the roster have begun to materialize into more serious issues that can’t be ignored any longer. The main focus has been on the rotation, and for good reason, but there remains an interesting dilemma at the hot corner.
Through his first 203 MLB plate appearances, Matt Shaw has posted a .620 OPS while spending most of his time at the bottom of the batting order. He’s got just two home runs, and his .094 ISO ranks 204th out of 229 hitters with at least 200 PAs. Playing great defense can only carry you for so long, and the Cubs could use a little more pop from the hot corner.
Shaw’s future on the North Side remains bright, but a few names have been tossed around that could serve as perfect insurance as the Cubs prep for their first playoff push since 2020. Two of those are very realistic, and two others are quite a bit less so. Let’s take a look at them.
Eugenio Suárez
Cubs fans most closely associate the nearly 34-year-old Suárez with the Reds, for whom he hit 27 home runs over seven seasons against the Cubs. He’s added nine more in four subsequent seasons, and his 36 Cub-killing homers are more than he’s hit against any other team.
Suárez has had quite the resurgence in his two-year stay with Arizona, with 56 total homers over 980 PAs. The veteran owns an .888 OPS with an impressive 26 home runs this season, driving career highs with a 140 wRC+ and .310 ISO.
With just one year remaining on his contract, a trade would make sense for both Suárez and the Cubs. Not only would it give Shaw a little more breathing room to let his bat come around, but Suarez could chase a title while further padding his stats in a ballpark he’s peppered for years. And despite his big power production, the cost won’t be exorbitant for a rental bat.
Ryan McMahon
Unlike the previous option, McMahon has not found as much success in his 2025 season through 82 games. There is still a track record of success, however, as McMahon was named to the 2024 All-Star team and has posted quite serviceable numbers since 2021. Though he’s never been an above-average offensive producer, his 55 defensive runs saved in that span rank second, and his 40 outs above average come in third.
McMahon signed a six-year, $70 million extension in 2022 that carries an $11.67 million AAV with actual salaries of $12 million this season and $16 million in each of the next two. His 2027 season becomes a player option if he finishes in the top five among MVP vote-getters this year, but I think we can safely say that won’t happen.
Trading for McMahon might indicate that the Cubs aren’t quite as bullish on Shaw’s future, but it probably wouldn’t cost much if the Rockies want to trim payroll.
Nolan Arenado
With their loss on Friday, the Cardinals stand 6.5 games behind first place in the NL Central race. They’re only one game out of the Wild Card, but their longstanding desire to shed salary and reboot the roster by trading their veteran third baseman. The Cubs have not made a trade with the Cardinals since 2007, when the Cardinals sent John Nelson to Chicago as part of a conditional deal. It doesn’t seem likely that the streak ends now, especially with the Cards in contention.
Arenado is under contract through the 2027 season at respective salaries of $16 million and $15 million, plus his deal includes a no-trade clause. That latter wrinkle prevented a preseason agreement between the Cardinals and Astros from going through, as Arenado preferred to end up on the West Coast.
Even if he’d agree to a deal to move to a better team, the big question is whether Arenado is even worth the two-and-a-half-year commitment. The 34-year-old’s OPS has dropped over the last four seasons and is now below .700, while his power has also diminished.
Alex Bregman
Bregman is another curious contract case, as his three-year $120 million deal with the Red Sox includes opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. He’s currently on the IL with a quadriceps injury, but maintaining something close to his .938 OPS and 157 wRC+ when he returns could see him testing the market again. Boston has already made a shocking trade involving Rafael Devers and could further reshape the roster ahead of the deadline.
Jed Hoyer has never been the type to commit to large contracts, especially via trade, but the Cubs were finalists in the Bregman bidding this offseason and they might look to push all-in this month. While a move like this is still very unlikely, the possibility of Bregman opting out might be more attractive to the Cubs.
