Should the Twins Try to Acquire Matt Shaw

[mike8791]

With the recent signing of Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw is without a position, leaving his most likely role as a utility infielder.  Shaw was a top-rated prospect and his first MLB year in 2025 showed notable improvement in both his offense(>.800 OPS in 2nd half) and defense at 3b.  His initial position was 2B but he has some limited experience at SS.  He also has 6 years of team control.  There's some risk, of course, but after seeing him all season here in Chicago, his potential as a batter with some pop and an above average fielder was pretty evident to even a casual observer like me.

So the first question is:  does he fill a sizable hole in the twins lineup/infield defense?  I think we can all agree that the Twins IF is currently below average.  Sure, Lewis and Lee(less likely) could improve, Keuchel could continue his first season performance by adding to his defense and Bell brings more solidity to IB than we saw in 2025. But the reality is our talent is thin and acquiring an emerging talent like Shaw could generate a massive upgrade.  He could move to 3B with Lewis shifting to 1B  and Bell as DH.  He could return to his natural position at 2B with Keuchel moving to the corner outfield.  Lots of possibilities here.  Adding upside should still be a priority for a team that finished 22 games below .500.

Shaw would not come cheaply(a BBTV of 44).  The Cubs need additional pitching which the Twins have.  Assuming Ryan and Lopez are off the boards, Ober or SWR would almost be a must to start trade talks.  Sweeteners would have to be added - probably one of Abel, Mathews, Bradley or Festa and Wallner or one of our top minor league OFs not named Jenkins.  A steep price to pay, perhaps, but Shaw is the kind of emerging talent that this lineup needs.  We would be dealing from a position of strength and could afford to lose one of our 5 starters + one or two top prospects.

[bean5302]

Ober and SWR get the phone slammed down if they're going to be the headliner.

I'm not sure how well the Cubs value various Twins players, but they're going to be wanting a premium value player back. 

[mike8791]

Ober maybe, but certainly not SWR who would fit nicely in the middle of the Cubs rotation.  Unfortunately, Shaw has a BBTV of 44 while Ober and Mathews are a little less than half, making a trade for Shaw most difficult without a Ryan inclusion.  But BBTVs are not the driving force among teams with needs.  The Cubs should be vey interested in acquisition of an Ober or SWR.  The question is: what more would they want.  Would Lewis, Lee or Wallner have to be added?  Who knows, but an attempt should be made to add a highly talented IF to this roster.

[Chembry]

22 hours ago, mike8791 said:

With the recent signing of Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw is without a position, leaving his most likely role as a utility infielder.  Shaw was a top-rated prospect and his first MLB year in 2025 showed notable improvement in both his offense(>.800 OPS in 2nd half) and defense at 3b.  His initial position was 2B but he has some limited experience at SS.  He also has 6 years of team control.  There's some risk, of course, but after seeing him all season here in Chicago, his potential as a batter with some pop and an above average fielder was pretty evident to even a casual observer like me.

So the first question is:  does he fill a sizable hole in the twins lineup/infield defense?  I think we can all agree that the Twins IF is currently below average.  Sure, Lewis and Lee(less likely) could improve, Keuchel could continue his first season performance by adding to his defense and Bell brings more solidity to IB than we saw in 2025. But the reality is our talent is thin and acquiring an emerging talent like Shaw could generate a massive upgrade.  He could move to 3B with Lewis shifting to 1B  and Bell as DH.  He could return to his natural position at 2B with Keuchel moving to the corner outfield.  Lots of possibilities here.  Adding upside should still be a priority for a team that finished 22 games below .500.

Shaw would not come cheaply(a BBTV of 44).  The Cubs need additional pitching which the Twins have.  Assuming Ryan and Lopez are off the boards, Ober or SWR would almost be a must to start trade talks.  Sweeteners would have to be added - probably one of Abel, Mathews, Bradley or Festa and Wallner or one of our top minor league OFs not named Jenkins.  A steep price to pay, perhaps, but Shaw is the kind of emerging talent that this lineup needs.  We would be dealing from a position of strength and could afford to lose one of our 5 starters + one or two top prospects.

I have floated this idea around before on here and it didn't gain much traction, mostly because there are many trade targets one could pursue.  Matt Shaw would fit in well as a headliner if the Twins were to trade Ryan to the Cubs.  In fact, the Cubs have several potential headliners as trade candidates that could be of interest Wiggins, Ballesteros, Rojas, and Shaw all fit as headliners.  I really like Jonathon Long as well, but as part of the package, not a headliner.  Long is also blocked by Busch, but he may be a platoon partner.

Shaw has the upside we should be looking for in a trade.  He seems to have figured out something in the second half of 2025 and would fill a hole in the lineup.  Defensively, he shows different metrics between fielding bible and baseball savant so it would be similar to Lewis.  Shaw has played 2B so that would allow Keaschall to move to a better position for him (1B or OF).  He could also steal a few bases as well.

I terms of what would start the conversation, beyond Ryan, I don't know if the Twins have anything that entice the Cubs to move Shaw (or any of the other headliners).  Happ is in his last year of the contract and I am not sure the Cubs like Alcantra that much, so maybe Emmanuel Rodriguez starts the conversation? 

That being said, Hoerner is in his last year, so in all likelihood the Cubs hold on to Shaw and use him in a utility role for 2026.  But, I also know Shaw has ruffled some feathers within the Cubs organization for being "uncoachable".  I think the Cubs hold on to Shaw (or any of the other headliners I mentioned) unless they get a top of the rotation type of starter,    

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6960882/2026/01/11/alex-bregman-cubs-red-sox-bo-bichette/

[jorgenswest]

Isn’t Nico Hoerner a free agent after this season? Seems like Shaw is a perfect fit there. I am sure a team can get Shaw with an overpay right now. Long term he has a fit in the Cubs line up and they should be reluctant to trade him. 

[Chembry]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

Isn’t Nico Hoerner a free agent after this season? Seems like Shaw is a perfect fit there. I am sure a team can get Shaw with an overpay right now. Long term he has a fit in the Cubs line up and they should be reluctant to trade him. 

Yes, Nico is a free agent after 2026

[mike8791]

After agressively signing Bregman and trading for Cabrera, the Cubs are going all in this year.  Their rotation is iffy; Steele's absence still leaves a big hole.  There is no ace and Cabrera, Boyd, Imanga, Byrd, and Taillon each have some question marks.  This is not a championship staff currently.

So Ryan would undoubtedly trigger Cub interest.  With the FOs awful handling of Ryan(see arbitration) maybe the atmosphere is too poisoned to retain him.  If so, Shaw plus a couple other prospects could be had.  It would be a very tough call.

[Linus]

I’m not crazy about this. If the Twins give up valuable assets they need to acquire a stud bat or a legit SS. We’ve got guys to play second and third. 

[TheLeviathan]

Is he in a dumpster somewhere?

If not....it's not really our shopping preference.

[old nurse]

19 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Isn’t Nico Hoerner a free agent after this season? Seems like Shaw is a perfect fit there. I am sure a team can get Shaw with an overpay right now. Long term he has a fit in the Cubs line up and they should be reluctant to trade him. 

There has been speculation of Horner being traded all winter.  When they signed Bergman the reports said it was more likely to move Shaw and trade Horner 

[mike8791]

Shaw is the real prize due to controllability, power potential and position flexibility.  Hoerner is the better player now but this is one reason that Shaw is the more likely trade prospect.  Hoerner is an institutional favorite here in Chicago.  After making big moves to get Bergman and Cabrera, trading Hoerner would be an extremely unpopular move.  And his trade value is about half of Shaw's so the return would likely be far less.

This is all speculation, of course, but Shaw fits the bill of a long term asset the Twins need to compete over the next 5 years.

[TBo45]

No thanks

[Cory Engelhardt]

9 minutes ago, TBo45 said:

No thanks

His prospect savant profile, which is similar but with AAA data, is very encouraging.

https://prospectsavant.com/player/807713

I do think him as a headliner for Ryan makes sense, but more would have to come with. Especially with the headlines he generated last season for skipping out on the team etc. But he is the TYPE of player that still has upside that one would need as a headliner if they are going to move someone like Ryan. I just hope the people who are looking into players to trade confirm also the fit inside the clubhouse. If he is going to be a negative add to the clubhouse personality wise, then I stay away.

[TNtwins85]

21 hours ago, mike8791 said:

After agressively signing Bregman and trading for Cabrera, the Cubs are going all in this year.  Their rotation is iffy; Steele's absence still leaves a big hole.  There is no ace and Cabrera, Boyd, Imanga, Byrd, and Taillon each have some question marks.  This is not a championship staff currently.

So Ryan would undoubtedly trigger Cub interest.  With the FOs awful handling of Ryan(see arbitration) maybe the atmosphere is too poisoned to retain him.  If so, Shaw plus a couple other prospects could be had.  It would be a very tough call.

I think you’re right and Ryan or Lopez are the only names that start a conversation. If that’s the case I want to look at all the names as there’s a couple of prospects that I’d like more than Shaw. If Ryan or Lopez are of the Cubs desire then it all starts with Ballesteros. If they’re looking to unload Shaw then you’re starting with Ober or SWR and working from there.

[TNtwins85]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

His prospect savant profile, which is similar but with AAA data, is very encouraging.

https://prospectsavant.com/player/807713

I do think him as a headliner for Ryan makes sense, but more would have to come with. Especially with the headlines he generated last season for skipping out on the team etc. But he is the TYPE of player that still has upside that one would need as a headliner if they are going to move someone like Ryan. I just hope the people who are looking into players to trade confirm also the fit inside the clubhouse. If he is going to be a negative add to the clubhouse personality wise, then I stay away.

He had very encouraging numbers in the minors for sure and held his own as an everyday player last year. I’d want more than Shaw though for Ryan or Lopez. Ballesteros and Shaw for Ryan and another throw in or you hang up the phone if you’re the Twins. If you’re trading either of those guys it’s gotta be for a Juan Soto esque haul! “If” they’re trying to compete this year which isn’t looking that way as of yet.

[Cory Engelhardt]

29 minutes ago, TNtwins85 said:

He had very encouraging numbers in the minors for sure and held his own as an everyday player last year. I’d want more than Shaw though for Ryan or Lopez. Ballesteros and Shaw for Ryan and another throw in or you hang up the phone if you’re the Twins. If you’re trading either of those guys it’s gotta be for a Juan Soto esque haul! “If” they’re trying to compete this year which isn’t looking that way as of yet.

See if it started with Shaw and Wiggins I'd listen on Ryan. I don't know after that what would need to take place, but IF he can be a positive addition to the clubhouse, then he is the type of player to headline a deal. At least in my opinion.

[tony&rodney]

Matt Shaw is just another name in a host of ideas that were floated as potential hoped for acquisitions. Those thoughts flowed from fans who saw early on that Joe Ryan had value that could give the Twins a shot at a really good prospect. Shaw would be at the low end of any desires. 

One lens views multiple players returned as better than a compensation pick in 2028. The side that believes in shooting high may be unrealistic. I would propose reaching higher and only accepting a Matt Shaw (who may well turn into a fine baseball player)  when and if it is clear that no team is willing to gamble real talent for Joe Ryan and the Twins cannot work out a deal. Perhaps all top contenders see no big improvement from acquiring Ryan in a pricey deal, but that seems unusual. Teams like Detroit, West Sacramento, and the Mets among other teams seem like decent trade partners. However it takes two to finalize any deals.

It does seem like the front office has their dream team already so talking about trades may be ludicrous.

No deal with the Cubs. No to Matt Shaw.

[TNtwins85]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

Matt Shaw is just another name in a host of ideas that were floated as potential hoped for acquisitions. Those thoughts flowed from fans who saw early on that Joe Ryan had value that could give the Twins a shot at a really good prospect. Shaw would be at the low end of any desires. 

One lens views multiple players returned as better than a compensation pick in 2028. The side that believes in shooting high may be unrealistic. I would propose reaching higher and only accepting a Matt Shaw (who may well turn into a fine baseball player)  when and if it is clear that no team is willing to gamble real talent for Joe Ryan and the Twins cannot work out a deal. Perhaps all top contenders see no big improvement from acquiring Ryan in a pricey deal, but that seems unusual. Teams like Detroit, West Sacramento, and the Mets among other teams seem like decent trade partners. However it takes two to finalize any deals.

It does seem like the front office has their dream team already so talking about trades may be ludicrous.

No deal with the Cubs. No to Matt Shaw.

“Dream Team!” lol! As each day goes by with the Twins doing nothing I am starting to think this is their dream team. One day at a time I believe you are right on that. If that is the case then Tom Pohlads quote of no half measures leaves one scratching their head because I think this team as is is the epitome of one large half measure.

[Blyleven2011]

5 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Matt Shaw is just another name in a host of ideas that were floated as potential hoped for acquisitions. Those thoughts flowed from fans who saw early on that Joe Ryan had value that could give the Twins a shot at a really good prospect. Shaw would be at the low end of any desires. 

One lens views multiple players returned as better than a compensation pick in 2028. The side that believes in shooting high may be unrealistic. I would propose reaching higher and only accepting a Matt Shaw (who may well turn into a fine baseball player)  when and if it is clear that no team is willing to gamble real talent for Joe Ryan and the Twins cannot work out a deal. Perhaps all top contenders see no big improvement from acquiring Ryan in a pricey deal, but that seems unusual. Teams like Detroit, West Sacramento, and the Mets among other teams seem like decent trade partners. However it takes two to finalize any deals.

It does seem like the front office has their dream team already so talking about trades may be ludicrous.

No deal with the Cubs. No to Matt Shaw.

When falvey and Levine were a team , i really believed they thought they were the dream team ...

I catch your drift on this being a dream team though , this team is not competitive enough to be contenders  ...

[mike8791]

Thanks to all of you responding!  Many good ideas here!   Yes, it would take a sizable package to acquire Shaw - more than any 2 of Ober, SWR, Mathews, Abel, if the BBTV of 44 is realistic.  I think that is an overvaluation but what do I know!

The signing of Bregman and trade for Cabrera shows Cubs are going all out for a WS.  What they clearly lack is a championship quality rotation.  They have no clear ace with a top five of Boyd, Cabrera, Taillon, Horton and Imanga.  Joe Ryan would provide a much-needed jolt to Cubs' WS chances.

No doubt losing Ryan would be a blow, especially in 2026, but the FO's reluctance to build a competitive bullpen this offseason indicates a lack of seriousness about competing this year.  This fact has become all too obvious by now, despite blather from Tom and his FO stooges. Couple this inaction with their refusal to come to a salary agreement with Ryan over a mere $600K difference and the die is cast for Ryan leaving after 2007.

Now the question becomes: is Shaw a reasonable return for Ryan?  The answer is clearly no, but the Cubs have enough value to sweeten the pot, e.g., Ballasteros, Wiggins, or Amaya are all intriguing adds to a Twins roster. Is Shaw a risk?  Certainly, but a forward-looking FO should be looking more at the future than just 2026.  Frankly, I would rather see Michael Bush than Shaw but since he has become such a key piece in the lineup, chances of him being included in a trade are much less than Shaw.

The simple fact is holding on to Ryan is a loser's game.  Unfortunately, this losing strategy describes Twins org to a tee, so I confess to whistling in the dark here.

 

[TNtwins85]

12 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

When falvey and Levine were a team , i really believed they thought they were the dream team ...

I catch your drift on this being a dream team though , this team is not competitive enough to be contenders  ...

I mean any team can be competitive if everything breaks right. But that’s a big if when you’re talking 162 games. That’s what gets you. That’s how you can have teams that compete with these big market teams. A team like the brewers have the depth int heir system to keep throwing guys at the 162 and the hey can win. That’s the thing about baseball is in the regular season you need depth. In the postseason you need big plays in big spots and that’s how the dodgers won. If everything breaks right for the Twins I can see them winning 87-92 games. But that’s a stretch if even one or two things don’t break right. Hell, Cleveland seems to do it every year and as long as Jose Ramirez is healthy and productive it’ll probably continue. That’s what the Twins had in the 2000’s. I just can’t see how the Twins plan to compete without adding one or two more pieces that can contribute. They’re asking for all star years from Buxton, Ryan and Lopez and one of Lewis, Jeffers, and Wallner. That on top of at least a few guys taking big steps forward. Quite the stretch.

[tony&rodney]

I should add to why I say no to the Cubs and the packages they might offer. All of those guys could be stars or regulars but I'm expecting more busts and players like Lewis and Wallner are now. Can Lewis and Wallner take a leap in production and make an All Star team? Yes, they can but it isn't something to count on imho. I want more.

Holding Ryan seems foolish given his current value and the likelihood of the Twins being a .500 team this year. It is a risk that Falvey will take though. As stated earlier it is totally possible that no team is willing to trade anything worthy of a deal for Ryan. We cannot know that situation. A couple of wild ideas, dismissed by many on previous occasions, are to suggest ideas to Detroit or West Sacramento. All trades contain risks. I would bundle Ryan with Alan Roden, Marek Houston, and Charlee Soto to Detroit for Max Clark. I would make the same offer to the A's for Leodalis De Vries. I would offer Royce Lewis, Taj Bradley, and either of Festa or Matthews for De Vries as another option. Of course, both teams may have zero interest in those deals and the Twins as well as many of their fans may see those ideas as crazed. Joe Ryan is my favorite player to watch on the Twins but this team is going nowhere without an influx of talent. The piles of Abel and that sort of player may work out brilliantly but I'm reaching higher. The Twins tried to coax Andrew Painter away from the Phillies and failed. They need to reboot and keep looking for transactions that changes the dynamics of their current roster.

[bean5302]

On 1/14/2026 at 9:08 AM, mike8791 said:

Ober maybe, but certainly not SWR who would fit nicely in the middle of the Cubs rotation.  Unfortunately, Shaw has a BBTV of 44 while Ober and Mathews are a little less than half, making a trade for Shaw most difficult without a Ryan inclusion.  But BBTVs are not the driving force among teams with needs.  The Cubs should be vey interested in acquisition of an Ober or SWR.  The question is: what more would they want.  Would Lewis, Lee or Wallner have to be added?  Who knows, but an attempt should be made to add a highly talented IF to this roster.

This is why I like BTV. Ober's value is higher than SWR despite having a lot less control and a higher salary because Ober projects as a much better pitcher. BTV has been a very accurate site when it comes to assessing how teams might match established players and well known prospects up in terms of value.

If you're adding Lee, Wallner or Lewis, they're the headliners, not Ober/SWR.

The Cubs would jump at a Royce Lewis & SWR or Ober trade.

[tony&rodney]

14 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

The Cubs would jump at a Royce Lewis & SWR or Ober trade.

I wouldn't trade for Matt Shaw if the price was Royce and either of Ober/SWR. I would send Larnach and Julien, which is just disrespectful on my part. No to Shaw.

[mike8791]

"I wouldn't trade for Matt Shaw if the price was Royce and either of Ober/SWR. I would send Larnach and Julien, which is just disrespectful on my part. No to Shaw." - T/R

 

"The Cubs would jump at a Royce Lewis & SWR or Ober trade." - Bean

T/R: can't understand your aversion to Shaw.  Yes, there's a risk he could backslide and his politics might be abrasive, but this guy showed flashes of stardom - certainly more than Lee has shown.  If there was a chance this team as currently constituted could contend in 2026, then no, I wouldn't give up Ryan, but what is the likelihood of that happening?  Better to build for post 2026 with star talent than maintain this feeble offense.  Starters are our strength; we can afford to lose Ryan in hopes of a solid replacement among Abel, Bradley, SWR and/or Mathews.

Bean:  Doubt if Cubs would jump at Lewis + Ober or SWR.  Where does Lewis fit?  And of our 3 underachievers(Lewis, Lee, Wallner), doesn't Lewis still have the most upside?  I'd give him one more year to prove he belongs.  No, what the Cubs badly need is an ace.  Ryan fits the bill and while I'd hate to lose him, it's a risk worth taking given the team's budget limitations and rotation strength.  Not to say, I wouldn't try a package headlined by Ober or SWR but we don't have any other position players that Cubs need.  Now that Caratini has been signed, perhaps Jeffers would entice the Cubs, as he would be a likely upgrade over Kelly/Amaya.

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tony

[Steve J]

Why would they need another infielder who is, at best, marginal at shortstop?

[David HK]

On 1/16/2026 at 10:18 AM, Blyleven2011 said:

When falvey and Levine were a team , i really believed they thought they were the dream team ...

I catch your drift on this being a dream team though , this team is not competitive enough to be contenders  ...

We let the dream part walk, and kept the nightmare.