With the initial shockwave of Alex Bregman signing with the Chicago Cubs on a five-year, $175 million deal still tearing through the baseball world, attention now turns to what’s next for a team that has pushed its chips to the center of the table.
Bregman checks several boxes for the Cubs. He is a veteran leader with ample postseason experience who still adds a jolt to any lineup. Beyond that, the Cubs must now face reality and decide what comes next. Significant spending is likely complete, though that door remains ajar in case ownership chooses to write one more blank check.
The elephant in the room is roster construction. The Cubs now have an overcrowded infield, and one of two players, Matt Shaw or Nico Hoerner, could eventually become collateral damage. Still, the case for keeping both is compelling.
Why the Chicago Cubs Have Time on Their Side
Start with Hoerner, a pending free agent entering the final year of his contract. Removing him from the lineup would undo much of what the Cubs built this offseason. Fresh off a Gold Glove-winning 4.8 WAR season, Hoerner has become a core piece of the team’s success. Elite contact hitters with plus speed and top-tier defense are becoming increasingly rare, and handing the reins to Shaw this early could cap the ceiling of the 2026 Cubs.
Shaw showed improvement in the second half but still slashed just .226/.295/.394 in 2025. To his credit, he flashed signs of offensive growth, and his electric defense at third base is why Jed Hoyer remains so high on the former first-round pick.
There’s significant upside in Shaw, but penciling him into an everyday role at second base feels premature given Hoerner’s elite bat-to-ball skills. Instead, the Cubs should deploy Shaw as a super-utility player who can still accumulate 300-plus at-bats. Let him continue to develop while Hoerner bats .300, gets on base at a well-above-average clip, and anchors the defense. The rest can be evaluated before free agency next winter.
The Counter-Argument: Trade Value for Both Players
Hoerner’s value around the league is undeniable, and plenty of teams would jump at the chance to land a player of his caliber.
In theory, moving Hoerner could net a pitching prospect closer to MLB readiness. While the Cubs still have room on their 40-man roster, the 26-man roster is tightening. Of the 13 pitchers projected to make the cut, only Cade Horton, Javier Assad, and Daniel Palencia have minor league options remaining. Unless Hoerner headlines a massive trade package, it’s unlikely the Cubs receive a return that meaningfully improves the major league roster.
Could the Cubs package Hoerner, Assad, and other top prospects for an arm like Mason Miller? That’s the tier required to justify moving Hoerner for a 2026 upgrade, and it remains highly improbable. Given that reality, keeping Hoerner’s bat makes more sense than trading him for another good reliever.
Shaw is also intriguing as a trade candidate, given his potential and the many years of cost control remaining on his rookie contract. Many teams would gladly offer him an everyday role, but his upside is precisely why the Cubs must remain patient. Moving him prematurely is counterintuitive to how this front office operates.
The Most Likely Outcome
Both players will be on the Opening Day roster. The Cubs won’t rush a move unless an offer blows them away. Instead, they’ll take a measured approach, monitor performance, and reassess whether moving one or the other makes sense down the line.
If Shaw struggles to meet expectations, he becomes the movable piece, and Hoerner becomes extendable. If Shaw breaks out, the front office may prefer his cheaper, team-friendly contract and look to trade Hoerner.
Until then, expect to see Shaw in a super-utility role, subbing late based on matchups and starting across the diamond on routine rest days. Buckle up. This Cubs team is one that fans have been waiting for, and it looks every bit like a contender heading into 2026.