The Chicago Cubs will head into the Aug. 3 trade deadline without one of their more intriguing young pieces available for activation. Utility player Matt Shaw, sidelined since late June with a left hand sprain, will not return before the deadline, manager Craig Counsell confirmed, leaving the 24-year-old’s status tied more to long-term roster value than any short-term deal.Shaw has been on the 10-day injured list since June 29 after the injury, which also involved wrist discomfort, flared up during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Recent updates indicate he still cannot swing a bat without symptoms, even as imaging has shown improvement and the overall inflammation has lessened. Counsell made clear the club will not rush the process, keeping Shaw off the active roster through the deadline.That timeline pushes any potential activation into mid-August at the earliest, possibly after a brief rehab assignment once he clears the symptom-free swinging threshold. Hand sprains can vary widely: milder cases resolve in a couple of weeks, while moderate ones often stretch a month or longer. Shaw sits toward the longer end of that spectrum after nearly a month already on the shelf.The Cubs themselves sit in solid position as buyers.
At 59-45, they hold the top National League wild-card spot and have outscored opponents by 77 runs. Their offense ranks third in the majors with a 110 wRC+, paced by center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. After a 92-70 campaign and wild-card berth in 2025, Chicago is well-positioned to contend again, though the pitching staff remains an area targeted for upgrades via the trade market.Shaw has drawn occasional interest as a potential piece in packages for controllable starting pitching. Yet the Cubs appear far more inclined to retain him. The right-handed hitter provides valuable depth and projects as a long-term outfield option.
In 56 games and 147 plate appearances this season, he has posted a .246/.322/.415 slash line with four home runs, 20 RBIs and four stolen bases, good for a 105 wRC+. That marks modest gains over his 2025 rookie output (.226/.295/.394 across 437 plate appearances), including a 1.9 mph jump in average exit velocity and a 6.8 percent rise in hard-hit rate—progress that, while still below league average in those categories, signals steady adjustment to major-league pitching.Defensively, Shaw has adapted after the signing of Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner’s extension limited his infield opportunities. Last season he earned 12 Defensive Runs Saved primarily at third base. This year he has logged most of his time in right field, totaling 187 2/3 innings with three Defensive Runs Saved and two Outs Above Average per Statcast.
His ability to deliver above-average defense across multiple positions while producing roughly league-average offense makes him a flexible asset for a contending roster, both now and into October.With the deadline approaching, Chicago’s patience with Shaw’s recovery underscores his internal value. Once healthy, the former first-round pick (13th overall in 2023 out of Maryland) should slot back into a versatile role, offering the kind of multi-positional depth that often proves decisive in a long postseason run. For now, the Cubs will continue monitoring his progress carefully rather than accelerating a return that could risk setbacks.