The Chicago Cubs have lost the National League Central lead after leading by 6 1/2 games at one point. They need to make a trade to upgrade their roster.
Matt Shaw has not been great offensively this season. He was one of the best prospects in the organization coming into the year, so the Cubs are not going to just give up on him, but they need a better option at third base right now.
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The Cubs could lose Kyle Tucker in free agency, so there may be a sense of urgency to win this year. FanSided’s Wynston Wilcox suggested Jed Hoyer swing a trade for Eugenio Suárez to “save” his future with the team. Hoyer’s contract will expire after this season, and if the team is unable to reclaim the division and make a run, his time with the Cubs could be over.
“Eugenio Suárez’s name has not only garnered a lot of attention, but buzz around the Arizona Diamondbacks trading him in the next week have ramped up over the last few days,” wrote Wilcox. “In the midst of all the contenders in line to land Suárez, the Cubs have to find a way to land him. Even if it means swapping third basemen with the Diamondbacks. Matt Shaw hasn’t been bad by any means, but Suárez is one of the best power hitters in MLB this season. They can’t afford to balk at landing him in a deal, especially if they plan on getting the top spot in the NL and go on a deep playoff run.”
Shaw’s defense is better than Suárez’s, but he is hitting just .221. Suárez has 36 home runs and a league-leading 86 RBIs. He was named an All-Star for the second time in his career this year.
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Suarez signed a $66 million deal in 2018 and is playing on a $15 million club option this year. He will be a free agent after the season, so Shaw could continue to develop and try to claim the third base position again next year. Suárez could be a player who dictates how far the Cubs can go this year.
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