Nearing the halfway point of an up-and-down season, the Cubs are searching for answers, and the fans have plenty of questions about the team’s direction. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back with another mailbag episode that gets into the idea of Matt Shaw as a trade chip, how Jed Hoyer’s front office is trying to fix the pitching pipeline, Craig Counsell’s evolving lineups and more up-to-date information from Wrigley Field.

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Amid the deep slump that has impacted almost the entire lineup, the calls for the Cubs to bench their $177 million shortstop are getting louder. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney examine the entire Swanson situation, beginning with the votes of confidence from the manager and the front office. Why are the Cubs so committed to their current defensive alignment? How long will that arrangement last? And what are the potential alternatives?

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Here we go again. The Cubs are dealing with yet another rash of pitching injuries. Did getting pushed in the World Baseball Classic lead to Palencia’s choppy season? Why hasn’t Cabrera delivered on the promise the Cubs saw when they made that trade with the Marlins? And will Steele have enough runway to be an impactful pitcher this year? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney bring you up-to-date information from Wrigley Field, based on their reporting.

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