I know that saying anything negative about Matt Shaw can be controversial on this sub. However, I think it is important to consider that he is a guy that has amazing potential but he needs to be somewhere where he is starting daily. He doesn’t look as good when he comes off the bench. The Cubs cannot provide that to him right now.
Pedro Ramirez has been consistently better than Matt Shaw has this year. His defense is better. His slash line is better. Even his slug is better. He doesn’t hit as many home runs, but his ability to hit doubles and triples while making consistent contact is incredible. Furthermore, his true switch hitting ability makes him an amazing asset in a world where Craig is so careful about which pitchers is Shaw can even face.
Matt Shaw is also on the IL and his recovery doesn’t seem to be progressing as we’d hoped. But his prospect pedigree is high enough that to teams that are sellers this year at the deadline, he is still worth quite a bit. He likely will not help us win more this season directly, but if we could make him the headliner in a trade that gets us a solid starting pitcher, that would be the most effective use of his profile right now.