The Chicago Cubs started the season with Matt Shaw at third base. However, he was sent back down to Triple-A after some early struggles. The Cubs could be looking for upgrades near the trade deadline.
Shaw is the team’s top prospect, so they are not going to give up on him. However, the Cubs look like they could make a run in the National League and may be looking for players ready to help them win right now. They have seemingly decided that Ryan McMahon could be a candidate to take over at third base, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
“Several teams, including the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, are closely monitoring Colorado Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon in case he’s traded this summer,” wrote Nightengale.
Last season, McMahon was an All-Star for the first time. He has hit 20-plus home runs every year since 2019, excluding the pandemic-shortened season. He is struggling to start this season, hitting just .209, but perhaps playing on a winning team could change that. The Rockies are 8-37, set up to be sellers at the deadline.
McMahon is one of the only threats at the plate for the Rockies, putting more pressure on him and allowing teams to pitch him more carefully, knowing there is basically nobody behind him. On the Cubs, he would be joining Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and other talented hitters.
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He signed a six-year, $70 million deal in 2022 and is under club control through 2027. Many teams in need of a third baseman could be calling the Rockies to inquire about him. He could be a key player for the Cubs as they try to capitalize on their time with Kyle Tucker.
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