Cubs trying to trade 'defensive specialist' after Matt Shaw decision

The Chicago Cubs are calling Matt Shaw back up after sending him down to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs are now trying to trade one of their infielders as a result. According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Cubs are trying to trade Nicky Lopez after calling up Shaw.

"Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw is indeed coming up to the Cubs, as I just mentioned on ('Mully and Haugh')," Heyman wrote on X. "Shaw killed it in Iowa and rounds out terrific lineup. Cubs will try to trade defensive specialist Nicky Lopez, who didn’t travel with the team to Miami."

Shaw started the year in the big leagues. However, he hit just .172 in 18 games and was sent back down. In Triple-A, he has a .286/.409/.560 slash line with six home runs. The Cubs are hoping that Shaw can carry over his successes from Triple-A into The Show.

He is the team's top prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He is the No.18 prospect in all of baseball. Shaw was sent down on April 15, and the Cubs signed Lopez on April 23. Lopez will not demand a haul in trade, but the Cubs may be able to flip him for some cash.

Lopez has played in just 14 games this season for the Cubs. He has started just five of those games. He has played third base primarily, but with Shaw now in the big leagues, they do not need Lopez. His not traveling with the team is an indication that a trade could be on the horizon.

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Lopez was hitting just .042 this season. Shaw's glove and offense are both better than Lopez's, so this was a move that was likely on the Cubs' minds as they waited for Shaw to prove he was ready for another chance. Shaw will try to solidify himself as a big leaguer during his second stint with the Cubs as they try to make the postseason.

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