Matt Shaw shrugged off his first-half struggles as a rookie in 2025, returned from a demotion to Triple-A, and ended his first year in the big leagues with a strong finish. The right-handed hitting third baseman started pulling the ball with authority following the All-Star and hit home 11 home runs in 205 plate appearances. Maybe more impressive, Shaw was a gold glove finalist at third base, a relatively new position for the college shortstop. However, despite his success in the final few months of the year, it still seems like the Cubs may not be satisfied with Shaw as their starting third baseman entering the 2026 season.
In a way, it's kind of weird that the Cubs continue to show interest in adding a veteran third baseman only in the sense that last year they tried signing Alex Bregman, didn't and then pretty much handed the starting third base job to Shaw heading into spring training. Seems like a drastic set of choices there, either sign one of the top players at the position or let an unproven rookie have the job, no other real backup plan.
And well, we're kind of back there again, except Shaw has given us more optimism with his last 63-game sample size, but the Cubs remain involved in the third base market.
We have already discussed the Cubs' renewed interest in Bregman, and that pursuit was once again brought up by USA Today's Bob Nightengale on Sunday. That would obviously be a big commitment by the Cubs as Bregman is projected to sign a deal in the $150 million range. Furthermore, another free agent third baseman has now been connected to the Cubs and fans know him really well, it's none other than Eugenio Suarez.
According to Francys Romero, Suarez is back on the Cubs' radar this offseason after the team tried to get him back at the trade deadline.
Suarez, now 34-years-old, posted a 3.8 fWAR and 125 wRC+ with 49 home runs in 2025. He was eventually traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Seattle Mariners and at first Suarez slumped hard with his new team before turning on the power again. It was a boom or bust performance by Suarez from Aug. 10 through Sept. 25, as he hit 12 home runs in 170 plate appearances, but struck out 34.7% of the time, slashing .227/.300/.513.
Of course, the Cubs going after a third baseman now doesn't mean they don't believe in Shaw. He can easily move around the infield and still get 100 starts or so even if the Cubs sign Bregman or Suarez. Plus, it may be an uncomfortable conversation, but there's no guarantee that current starting second baseman Nico Hoerner is with the Cubs beyond the 2026 season. Hoerner will be a free agent and while it probably benefits the Cubs to re-sign him there is no certainty on that. Shaw could slide into second base on a full-time basis in 2027, or at least that could be the thinking if the Cubs sign a top free agent third baseman.
Speaking only for 2026, getting another bat is needed for the Cubs, who will be losing Kyle Tucker. Suarez obviously brings a power element that the Cubs can certainly use, so the interest in him is definitely intriguing.
