Matt Shaw, slotted as the Cubs super-utility man this season, may be nearing a return from a sprained left hand that’s sidelined him since June 28.
“I think we’re basically at a point where we’re considering a rehab assignment very soon, manager Craig Counsell said before Saturday’s 8-4 loss to St. Louis.
At Triple-A Iowa maybe this week?
“That’s what we’re on pace for,” Counsell said.
Counsell said Shaw hit off a Trajekt high-velocity pitching machine and swung and missed, which is part of the rehab process. The manager said Shaw felt great on Friday and was scheduled to repeat the exercise on Saturday.
Shaw was projected in the super-utility role after the Cubs signed third baseman Alex Bregman to his $175 million, five year free agent contract. Shaw has played six positions this season, with 26 game appearances in right field, followed by second base (seven games), third base (five games), left field (two games), first base (two games) and center field (one game).
He stepped in as the Cubs primary right fielder for 12 games after Seiya Suzuki hurt his right knee on June 13.
In 56 games, the 24-year-old Shaw is batting .246 with four homers and 20 RBIs. He’s on his second stint on the IL, after sitting out May 20 to June 9 with mid-back tightness.
Wrangling Over “The W”
Major League Baseball doesn’t want the WNBA to have unchecked control of “The W.”
The WNBA, its teams and players have been using “The W” to refer to the league in an overall branding strategy. In March 2025, the WNBA filed a trademark application for use of “The W” on apparel such as jersey, shirts and caps.
With the Cubs and Washington Nationals in mind, Major League Baseball filed a joint opposition to the trademark application on Aug. 10 to slow the process down establish clear distinctions with versions of the “W” used by those two clubs.
The concern: The WNBA’s use of the“The W” could create confusion and issues with the Cubs white-and-blue “W” win flags that fly on Wrigley Field’s center field scoreboard after victories. The Cubs use that “W” mark on a variety of merchandise. Even bigger, MLB wants to protect the Nationals’ primary script “W” logo that appears on the club’s caps and uniforms, as well as merchandise.
MLB manages trademarks and intellectual property not only for itself and the National and American Leagues, but member teams through “consultation and conversation” with them.
Published reports that originated with Front Office Sports, said MLB has been in regular contact with the WNBA and and NBA, which own 42 % of the women’s league. The goal is to establish boundaries for use of “The W” trademark.
A source at MLB confirmed the businesslike and ongoing dialog, and that it has been amicable. MLB filed the joint opposition for more time to “hash out the details.”
Palencia Progressing
Closer Daniel Palencia, out with right elbow inflammation since June 16, is making progress in his rehab process.
The right-hander is scheduled to pitch in Sunday for Triple-A Iowa after being elevated from Double-A Knoxville, where he tossed a strong scoreless inning on Thursday.
“He had a nice outing in Knoxville in his last one, and hopefully build on that again tomorrow in Iowa,” Counsell said.
More Báez Banter
More on St. Louis outfielder Joshua Báez, who made history with homers in his first three major-league at-bats in Saturday’s 8-4 Cardinals win.
• Baez became the fourth player this season to go deep in his first major-league at bat, joining Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter, Philadelphia’s Felix Reyes and Detroit’s Eduardo Valencia.
• He became the sixth Cardinal to homer on the first pitch he ever faced. The most recent previously was pitcher Adam Wainwright, in 2006.