When the season began, the Chicago Cubs had every intention of allowing rookie third baseman and top prospect Matt Shaw to get the bulk of the playing time at third base. Shaw impressed enough in spring training to crack the opening day roster, and it was his position to lose.
Unfortunately for Chicago, Shaw did indeed lose the job after posting an average of just .172 in 58 at-bats and 18 games played. Those struggles caused Shaw to be demoted to Triple-A Iowa, where Chicago hopes he can regain his confidence and find the impressive swing he showcased all of last season and in the spring.
With Shaw no longer on the major league roster, third base has been a bit of a revolving door for the Cubs. Jon Berti, Justin Turner, Gage Workman and Vidal Bruján have all gotten starts at the hot corner and none of the four have stepped up and earned the permanent starting spot.
Because of those struggles, here are three players Chicago should target to help solidify a major position of need. Rafael Devers – Boston Red Sox Devers made it clear he preferred to stay at third base even after the Red Sox signed third baseman Alex Bregman. He eventually shifted his focus to a full-time DH role, and it has not gone very well.
Devers is batting .209 with just two home runs and it is possible he has grown extremely frustrated with his current situation. A trade to the Cubs would put Devers in the same lineup that features Kyle Tucker. That duo batting second and third in the order would be a terrifying sight for any pitcher.
Nolan Arenado – St. Louis Cardinals
Arenado was always floated on the trade market during the offseason and with it not looking like the Cardinals will be in a position to compete for a playoff spot this season, he may once again be on the market near the trade deadline.
While a trade between the Cubs and Cardinals is unlikely, it has happened before. Arenado would have to waive his no-trade clause for a trade between the two teams to be completed and if this move were to ever happen, it would be a huge addition for Chicago.
Ryan McMahon – Colorado Rockies
McMahon is off to an atrocious start, as he is batting just .195 and leads the major leagues in strikeouts with 35. Despite the poor average, McMahon’s .313 on-base percentage and 13 walks shows he is still willing to take his walks and find ways on base.
This season has been a bit of an outlier for McMahon, a career .242 hitter who has hit 20-plus home runs and 20-plus doubles in each of the last five full seasons he’s played in. A change of scenery from the worst team in baseball to a division-leading team may be exactly what McMahon needs to kickstart his season.
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