Cubs reportedly showing interest in veteran Ryan McMahon

Darren Yamashita - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 5 hours ago

Who would've thought that Monday morning would put the Cubs in the center of the news for various reasons? The first and foremost reason was hearing that Matt Shaw will again return to the Cubs after spending the last month down in AAA Iowa.

Although it hasn't been made official yet, Shaw is expected to be added back to the Cubs roster ahead of the Miami series and will instantly become their best offensive option at third base. Should this move happen, a roster move needs to be made, and it is expected that Nicky Lopez will be the odd man out.

Lopez was added to the Cubs roster just under three weeks ago, and although he provided nothing with the bat, he was by far their best defensive option at the hot corner. If Shaw can play at least close to the level of defense that Lopez has played, he brings with him a much higher offensive ceiling, and that alone makes this Cubs lineup deeper.

The plan for Lopez is to figure out a trade instead of losing him for nothing, as he brings plenty to the table for any organization. After watching Shaw struggle out of the gate to begin the season, many talks surrounded him and whether he would be back this season. Not only is he coming back, but he is coming back on a tear as the Cubs couldn't afford to wait any longer.

He’s hitting .286/.409/.560/150 wRC+ through 110 plate appearances at Iowa, and that came after starting 1-11 after his demotion. However, what he has done over his last 12 games is where the attention lies, as he has been arguably the best hitter in AAA over the past two weeks. Whether or not that transfers to the MLB remains to be seen, but these are the positive signs you wanted to see for his development.

Sticking with the hot corner for a moment, the Cubs are not only looking at the short-term fix with Shaw, but are also looking at a potential long-term fix should Shaw struggle again. That solution could come from the trade market, as Bob Nightengale has reported that the Cubs are one of several teams keeping an eye on Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon as a possible trade chip.

Signed through the 2027 season on a deal that pays him $12 million this season, McMahon is one of the cheaper options at the hot corner and would fit in this organization's plans for the next few seasons. Even if the fit may not seem ideal, hearing that the Cubs are officially keeping tabs on him is worth noting, as it gives the fans another player to watch this summer.

With an upcoming series against the Rockies coming up at the end of the month, the Cubs will get an up-close look at McMahon and may even start looking at him as an option, depending on how the rest of the first half plays out. Considering the 30-year-old has been a below-average bat most of his career, some may be wondering why the Cubs would even bother taking a look at him.

Well, his glove alone will get him plenty of attention, as he has been known for his above-average to great glove most of his career. Add his defense to an already lethal defensive unit on the Cubs' infield, and there is no doubt that he would give them the best defensive infield in the game. However, knowing that he has hit just .243 over the past five seasons, the once highly touted prospect is seen as just an average player, as the breakout season the Rockies were hoping for may never come.

While the .243 average the past five seasons is slightly better than his .241 career average, you know what you will get from him offensively, as this is his ninth season in the league. This season is a prime example of how much he struggles at the plate, as he is hitting just .206 with one homer and 11 RBIs. That is especially disturbing when you consider the Coors Field factor, but maybe playing for the Rockies is mentally taking a toll on him.

This is one of those classic change-of-scenery moves, as a change of scenery could do him well. Struggles aside, McMahon has more than 130 career homers and has had five seasons of at least 20 homers. That included a career high of 24 in 2019, most recently connecting for 20 homers in 2024.

Adding him to the Cubs lineup may help him find his power stroke again, as he wouldn't be the top offensive option as he is now. Instead, he would be the sixth or seventh best offensive option on the Cubs, and if he is your seventh best option, your offense is in a great place.