Cubs utility player Matt Shaw knows his name is churning through the rumor mill with the trade deadline two weeks away. He just doesn’t want to hear about it.
Sometimes, however, it’s out of his control.
‘‘The only time I’ll know if I’m in trade talk is when a family member says, ‘Hey, I read this,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that,’ ’’ Shaw told the Sun-Times on Sunday.
Indeed, while Shaw recovers from a sprained left hand, his name is all over the place as possible trade bait for the pitching-hungry Cubs. Having shown his versatility — he has played everywhere but pitcher, catcher and shortstop this season — the 2023 first-round draft pick might help the Cubs net some quality pitching.
But he learned during his rookie season in 2025, when he was yearning to know whether he had made the big-league roster for the Japan Series, that it’s best for his well-being to stay in the dark.
‘‘I was reading every news article about the team because I didn’t know anything,’’ Shaw said. ‘‘So I got really caught up in that, and it was super-stressful. It was in my mind all the time. But I learned from that experience I can’t watch any of that stuff. And that was a really helpful lesson. Now I don’t look at anything.’’
Shaw’s focus is on healing from the injury he suffered when he fouled off a pitch June 28. He said that it’s still sore and that teammates who’ve had hand/wrist issues have told him they can take a long time to heal. Shaw grew impatient with the injury and wanted to tough it out, but he realized it was best to take a step back and let it heal.
The Cubs are trying everything to expedite his recovery.
‘‘The technology in the training room is unbelievable,’’ Shaw said. ‘‘I don’t know what it’s all doing, but we’re doing four, five different things every single day.’’
Shaw said he has been able to stay in shape by throwing, sprinting and working out. The one thing he can’t do is hit. But that hasn’t been a problem for him this season. All his slash numbers are up from his rookie season, and his OPS+ is 105 — 136 against left-handers.
Shaw said he doesn’t know when he’ll be able to hit again.
‘‘It was one of those things where I just assumed that by now it would be healed and I’d be building up,’’ he said. ‘‘You set expectations, you don’t really know how the body is going to respond. I’ve never had an injury like this before.’’
Civale to arrive soon
With a stretch of 17 games in 17 days beginning Friday, the Cubs acquired right-hander Aaron Civale from the Athletics on Saturday to help them fill innings.
After the A’s designated him for assignment Wednesday, Civale headed to his home in the Northeast. He’ll return to Sacramento before making his way to Chicago. Manager Craig Counsell said Civale would arrive in the next couple of days. Players have 72 hours to report after being traded.
Civale pitched for the Brewers, White Sox and Cubs last season. The Cubs claimed him off waivers Aug. 31, and he posted a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings with one save. He also pitched 4⅓ scoreless innings in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Brewers. This season, he’s 5-7 with a 5.42 ERA in 74⅔ innings spanning 16 appearances, including 15 starts.
‘‘He’s struggled since he’s come off the injured list [June 17 after tendinitis in his right shoulder],’’ Counsell said. ‘‘That’s what we’re working with right now. Try to diagnose that and see if there’s anything we can do to help him.’’
Taillon expected back Monday
Counsell said he anticipated right-hander Jameson Taillon (strained left hamstring) to be activated from the injured list Monday to open the three-game home series against the Tigers. Counsell said Taillon, who last pitched for the Cubs on June 7, would be somewhat limited innings-wise.
On deck
TIGERS AT CUBS
Monday: Jack Flaherty (3-8, 4.48 ERA) vs. Jameson Taillon (2-5, 5.19), 7:05 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM, 104.3-FM.
Tuesday: Framber Valdez (5-6, 4.10) vs. David Peterson (4-7, 6.45), 7:05 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM, 104.3-FM.
Wednesday: Keider Montero (6-5, 3.22) vs. Colin Rea (7-6, 4.74), 7:10 p.m., ESPN, 670-AM, 104.3-FM.
