Cubs Closing In On Edward Cabrera Trade With Marlins

The Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins pulled off one of the more interesting moves of the offseason. They swapped proven pitching for young, high-upside bats.

Let’s dig into why the Cubs sent Owen Caissie and two infield prospects to Miami for Edward Cabrera, what this says about both teams’ plans, and how things might look by 2026.

Cubs Land a High-Upside Arm for the Present

For the Cubs, this trade is all about shoring up the rotation with a controllable, talented arm. They needed pitching they could count on, and Edward Cabrera fits that mold.

Cabrera, who turns 28 in April, just wrapped up the best season of his career. He tossed a career-high 137 2/3 innings with a 3.53 ERA.

Why Edward Cabrera Fits in Chicago

Cabrera’s 2025 season showed he’s more than just a big arm. He paired his usual power stuff with better command, posting a 25.8% strikeout rate and cutting his walk rate to a career-low 8.3%.

He did hit the injured list twice—once for blisters, then a late-season elbow sprain—but bounced back fast. His velocity didn’t dip, still sitting around 97 mph with the fastball. The Cubs’ doctors signed off on him, so there’s less worry about lingering health issues.

Contract Value and Rotation Impact

Contract-wise, Cabrera’s a steal. He’s a Super Two player, heading into his second year of arbitration, and is projected to make just $3.7 million in 2026.

He’s under team control through 2028, giving the Cubs some budget breathing room. He’ll join a rotation that already features:

Justin Steele should return from UCL surgery by midseason. If he’s healthy, the Cubs could have a nasty top three when it matters most.

Marlins Bet on Bats and the Future

The Marlins needed more offense, plain and simple. They had pitching to spare, so Cabrera became expendable.

Owen Caissie Brings Needed Pop

The big get for Miami is Owen Caissie, a 23-year-old lefty outfielder with real power. In Triple-A last year, Caissie hit .286/.386/.551 with 22 home runs.

Strikeouts are still an issue—he’s always been a bit boom-or-bust—but the Marlins are betting the pop outweighs the whiffs. Caissie has six years of club control and two option years, so Miami can be patient. He’ll likely join Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee in the outfield mix.

Additional Prospect Depth

Miami picked up two infield prospects as well. Cristian Hernandez, 22, is a glove-first shortstop with speed—he stole 52 bases in 2025.

His bat is still a work in progress, but he’s athletic enough to maybe find a spot. Then there’s Edgardo De Leon, just 18, a raw international signee with pop who’ll probably start in Low-A next year. He’s a longer-term project for sure.

A Trade That Makes Sense for Both Sides

With Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Ryan Weathers, and Braxton Garrett anchoring the rotation, Miami actually has the flexibility to move Cabrera. They need to address some obvious offensive shortcomings.

Chicago, meanwhile, gets a controllable starter who’s just entering his prime. Multiple outlets reported the deal after Cabrera passed his medical review.

Both organizations are leaning into their strengths while admitting their weak spots. If Cabrera stays healthy and Caissie’s bat really plays, maybe this is one of those rare trades that works out for everyone—though, who knows, right?

 
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