Overview
- After finalizing Alex Bregman’s five-year, $175 million contract, Chicago acknowledged increased outside interest in its infielders during the third baseman’s introductory media session.
- Jed Hoyer said Shaw could be used in the outfield to keep his bat in the lineup, framing a potential super-utility path rather than committing to a swap.
- Shaw has no professional outfield experience but owns elite sprint speed and collegiate reps there, and any transition would require spring work to be viable.
- Keeping Hoerner preserves an established defender and contact bat as the club approaches the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, with his $12 million salary and 2026 free agency factoring into decisions.
- Rival clubs linked to Hoerner in recent reports include the Giants, Mariners and Yankees, and some outlets have pointed to right field as a plausible spot for Shaw, though no move has been made.