The Chicago Cubs’ $175 million acquisition of third baseman Alex Bregman has left one notable player without a starting job a month before spring training.
Matt Shaw, a 24-year-old third baseman, drew criticism for missing a September game to attend murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona. The team had already clinched a playoff spot at the time, but for a struggling rookie hitting just .223, the decision to leave the team raised eyebrows among fans and media.
A friend of Kirk’s who frequently texted the public speaker about their shared Christian faith, Shaw later released a statement indicating he had the team’s support in taking leave: ‘Allowing me to do that was really special of them.’
Although Shaw was considered a top prospect last season, veteran baseball insider Keith Law now sees him as the ‘most obvious candidate’ to get traded away from a Cubs infield that also includes second baseman Nico Hoerner and shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Law went a step further, reporting that insiders feel Shaw has been difficult to coach.
‘[… His] rookie season was a disappointment at the plate thanks to some frequent mechanical changes and, according to people I’ve spoken to, resistance to help from the Cubs’ staff,’ Law wrote in The Athletic. ‘He also made his priorities clear when he left the team during the pennant race to attend a political rally, missing a game the Cubs lost 1-0 [to the Cincinnati Reds].’
Charlie Kirk (center) is flanked by Cubs infielders Matt Shaw (left) and Michael Busch (right)
Newly acquired Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman enjoys the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers at the United Center
Many critics attacked Law on X for referring to the Kirk’s memorial service as a ‘political rally.’ The event took place at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cardinals, and was attended by President Donald Trump, among other right-wing figures.
‘Keith Law is a political extremist & allowing his hatred of Trump & Charlie Kirk to influence his baseball analysis, falsely claiming Matt Shaw is unprofessional, uncoachable & needs to be traded,’ one critic wrote on X.
But many other fans supported Law’s suggestion, politics aside.
As one wrote on X: ‘Keep Nico Hoerner, Trade Matt Shaw, simple stuff, Cubs.’
ESPN’s Jeff Passan has reported that the San Francisco Giants have inquired about Hoerner.
But USA Today baseball insider Bob Nightengale sees another avenue for the Cubs to retain Shaw.
‘The Cubs now can move Matt Shaw to second base and trade Nico Hoerner or simply make Shaw a super utility player,’ Nightengale wrote on X.
Of course, a developing player like Shaw needs as many plate appearances as possible, which could make a reserve role unappealing for both the player and the team.
Kirk, a passionate Chicago Cubs fan, is pictured with his wife and daughter at Wrigley
Kirk, a lifelong Cubs fan, was shot to death while speaking on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
Shaw faced criticism from Cubs fans and media members from around the country when he attended Kirk’s memorial service days later.
‘I don’t want to talk about any of the politics of it, but the thought of leaving your team in the middle of a race for any reason other than a family emergency really strikes me as weird,’ Mets announcer Gary Cohen told color commentator Todd Zeile.
‘I think it’s unprecedented, at least from my experience as a player,’ Zeile responded.
The 13th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, Shaw appeared in 126 games as a rookie, but posted a poor on-base percentage of just .295 and an equally miserable slugging percentage of .394. Despite this, he finished ninth in the Rookie of the Year voting.
The Massachusetts native spoke at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix last month.
