Chicago Cubs: Red-hot prospect may turn Matt Shaw into trade bait

The Chicago Cubs are staring down a sober reality—they may have no choice but to trade 2023 no. 1 draft pick and current big league super sub Matt Shaw.

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If the team is serious about making a deep postseason run and maybe even a run at a championship, they need to get their pitching situation sorted out quickly.

Their starting rotation is in shambles, hobbled by the season-ending elbow injury of Cade Horton and the current extended IL status of Matthew Boyd and Justin Steele, who both present question marks when it comes to their return. The remaining starters have also begun to falter.

The bullpen, meanwhile, is similarly stressed and strained by injury and inconsistency.

Simply put, the Cubs are NOT making a big splash this postseason with a rotation of Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Edward Cabrera, Colin Rea, Ben Brown and the maybe, possibly return of Boyd and Steele. And they also can’t count on a bullpen that is all questions until they get to the closer.

So, trades are an absolute must. And they have to be big ones for a high-end starter and at least one dependable bullpen arm.

Matt Shaw’s top-shelf value

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The Cubs’ no. 2 prospect Pedro Ramirez has been mentioned consistently as trade bait for such deals. But, realistically, the versatile talent may be just a component of a larger prospect package in a swap. Shaw, on the other hand, is good enough and established enough to go in a one-for-one trade.

The 24-year-old was moved off his third base spot this offseason when Chicago signed Alex Bregman and he’s responded incredibly well to his new super-utility role. So far this season, he’s played at third base, second base, first base, center field, and left field and has accounted well for himself while also swinging a decent bat.

Shaw, because of his age and upward developmental trajectory, would be appealing to teams in full rebuild mode as well as those out of contention who are just looking for a smart tweak.

From the Cubs side, the trade would hurt and it probably wouldn’t make sense unless the pitcher acquired is one with years of team control remaining.

Ramirez may be ‘for real’

But Ramirez looks to be the real deal down in Triple-A Iowa and he could be brought up to the big league roster to play the same utility role Shaw is currently playing. The 22-year-old switch-hitter has spent the bulk of his career at second base and third base, but has recently been getting playing time in left field.

Rich Eberwein of Cubbies Crib is very high on Ramirez and recently posted his thoughts on the prospect:

“Ramirez is putting together a spectacular season at the plate. Through his first 43 games, the 22-year-old has tormented Triple-A pitching this year. He is leading the Iowa Cubs in OPS (.942), RBI’s (40), runs (34), and hits (53). year. Known early in his career as a high-contact hitter with modest power, Ramirez has suddenly found his groove in the air, already launching nine home runs while maintaining an average north of .300.

Ramriez also brings versatility as a switch-hitter, a solid defender at second and third base, and he’s starting to take some reps in the outfield.”

When opportunity comes, a team needs to take it. And 2026 may be the Cubs’ window of opportunity to do something big. Reaching for that opportunity, however, may have a steep price.

The post Chicago Cubs: Red-hot prospect may turn Matt Shaw into trade bait appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-prospect-pedro-ramirez-matt-shaw-trade-bait/