The Cubs opened 2025 with rookie Matt Shaw at third base, and the kid showed plenty of promise in his first season.
But if the latest rumors hold up, Chicago might be heading in a completely different direction for 2026.
MLB insider Francys Romero dropped this on X Sunday morning:
“The Cubs continue to explore the third-base market in free agency, and Eugenio Suárez is one of the names to watch in the coming days, according to multiple sources.”
That’s an interesting development, considering Shaw’s performance and potential.
Suárez split last season between Arizona and Seattle after the Diamondbacks dealt him to the Mariners at the July deadline. The veteran third baseman mashed 36 home runs in the desert before adding 13 more after the trade.
The guy’s got serious pop. He even went deep four times in a single game for Arizona last season.
Now here’s where things get complicated for the Cubs.
What happens to Shaw if they bring in Suárez? The organization did experiment with Shaw at second base during 2025, but that’s Nico Hoerner’s territory. Moving Shaw there full-time creates it’s own set of questions.
From where I’m sitting, a Suárez signing puts Shaw in a tough spot. Does he become trade bait? Or do the Cubs explore moving Hoerner to make room for Shaw at second?
It’s hard to say at this point.
On paper, Suárez makes sense for Chicago. He brings veteran leadership and proven power to a lineup that could use both. But if they pull the trigger on this signing, don’t expect it to be their last move.
The way I see it, adding Suárez creates an infield logjam that’ll need sorting out. Whether that means trading Shaw, moving Hoerner, or finding another creative solution remains to be seen.
All things considered, it’s a good problem to have too much talent. But it’s still a problem that needs solving.
