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Cubs Expressing Interest in Gold Glove Matt Shaw Replacement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matthew Sullivan | Last updated Jul 6, 2025 11:45 AM ET

One of the issues that affected the Chicago Cubs early in the 2025 MLB season was their third base position. Matt Shaw got the initial try at third but struggled and was sent down to the minors.

He was later brought up and has since been better. Shaw had a .535 OPS in his first stint, and so far has a .608 OPS in round two. While he's been better, there's still room to improve.

The Cubs are looking to do so, because according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs are expressing interest in Gold Glove award winner Ke'Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates for their third base spot.

This isn't the first time the Hayes-Cubs connection has been made. Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also linked the Cubs to Hayes, with the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers confirmed as involved in trade talks.

Shaw, the former Cubs top prospect, is batting .210 on the season with a .586 OPS in 58 games played. Meanwhile, Hayes is batting .244 with a .594 OPS on the season.

Both have been great at the plate, and both are under team control through the 2030 season. The major difference is the cost and age. Shaw is on a rookie deal and is just 23 years old. Hayes is on an eight-year, $70 million deal at 28 years old.

The difference in cost and age isn't the only major difference; Hayes is a phenomenal defender. The 2023 Gold Glove winner has been among the league's best defenders in baseball. This season, he has the fourth-most Outs Above Average according to Baseball Savant.

While Shaw has the potential, Hayes would be a 'win-now' move for the Cubs. Hayes has better defense and is slightly better offensively than Shaw this season. Instead of letting Shaw develop, the Cubs could go for the ready-made player in Hayes for their postseason run.

So far, the Cubs have looked like one of baseball's best teams. The only issue is third base and pitching. If the Cubs land Hayes, they could use Shaw as a trade piece for an ace pitcher.

This report from Nightengale and Hiles is interesting, as the Cubs are seemingly okay with moving on from Shaw during his rookie season. Hayes would take his place and round out an intriguing Cubs infield for a postseason push.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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