Chicago Cubs: Surprising Brewers-Red Sox trade settles fate of Cubs infielders

The Chicago Cubs made an uncharacteristically aggressive and bold move this offseason by signing free agent third baseman Alex Bregman to a lucrative 5-year, $175 million contract. It was an especially bold move considering the Cubs already had a viable third baseman.

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Matt Shaw was given the third base gig last season after Chicago whiffed on their first effort to sign Bregman. And despite some struggles at the plate, especially early on in the season, the rookie former no. 1 draft pick did well enough to earn top consideration for that starting spot as the team headed into 2026.

With Bregman in town, however, the Cubs made the move to pull the 24-year-old Shaw from the hot corner and plug him into the role of super utility, with possible playing time at third, second, and at the corner outfield spots. He would also serve as insurance for the possible departure of second baseman Nico Hoerner, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.

That was the plan– unless the Cubs chose to trade him (or Hoerner) during the offseason.

Rumors were rampant that Chicago was talking to various teams about Shaw and Hoerner and that they were open to hearing offers. The infield-needy Boston Red Sox, who lost Bregman to the Cubs, were especially tied to the Shaw/Hoerner talk.

The Red Sox and Brewers make a deal

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Well, the Red Sox DID make that big trade for a young infielder after all, it just wasn’t with the Cubs.

On Monday morning, it was reported that Boston had made a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire third baseman Caleb Durbin, utility infielder Andruw Monasterio, third baseman Anthony Seigler, and a Comp B pick. In return, the Red Sox sent pitcher Kyle Harrison, middle infielder David Hamilton, and pitching prospect Shane Drohan to Milwaukee.

Durbin finished third in last year’s NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind the Braves’ Drake Baldwin and the Cubs’ Cade Horton. He ended his debut season slashing .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs.

The Brewers, meanwhile, picked up a high-upside pitcher in the 24-year-old Harrison, who was the chief component in Boston’s Rafael Devers trade last season. It’s worth noting that Durbin is the second high-profile rookie traded away by Milwaukee this offseason, following their December deal with the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Isaac Collins, who finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting last year.

What this means for the Cubs (and Matt Shaw, Nico Hoerner)

What all this means for the Cubs is that both Shaw and Hoerner are staying put in Chicago, at least for the time being.

For Shaw, specifically, it means that he’ll be following the team’s plan A for him and working from the bench as a fill-in and emergency sub this coming season. Last year, the Cubs were sorely lacking in the area of bench depth and the hope is that a more hitting-mature Shaw, who played every position but pitcher, catcher, and first base in the Cubs organization, will take some of the strain from the team’s starting position players.

Shaw embracing his new role

“Of course, you’re kind of looking at it like, ‘Oh, man, where am I going to play?’” Shaw told media back in January, referring to the moment he heard that Chicago had signed Bregman. “And you get a little anxious about those things, because the team knows me good enough at this point to know I just want to be prepared when the season comes around.

“So, of course, I immediately have questions like, ‘Am I going to go here? Am I going to go there?’ And they’ve been transparent with me, just kind of helping me to understand the role of moving to different positions, giving guys an off-day here and there. I’m pretty excited about it.”

All things considered, Shaw (and Hoerner) staying in Chicago has to be viewed as a positive, although the stockpiling of quality young talent by the Brewers this offseason (as well as by the St. Louis Cardinals) is concerning for the Cubs’ future standing in the NL Central Division.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-matt-shaw-nico-hoerner-brewers-red-sox-trade