Chicago Cubs acquire starting pitcher Edward Cabrera from Miami Marlins

The Chicago Cubs have acquired Miami Marlins right-handed starter Edward Cabrera in exchange for top prospects outfielder Owen Caissie, infielder Cristian Hernandez and infielder Edgardo De Leon (according to SportsGrid.) Neither team has confirmed the deal.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote on X: “The Chicago Cubs have acquired right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins that sends top outfield prospect Owen Caissie and two other hitting prospects to Miami, sources tell ESPN. Deal is done and official. Players are being informed now.”

Cabrera, who turns 28 in April, is due roughly $3.75 million in arbitration. The primary concern throughout Cabrera’s career has been injury – he has spent time on the IL with elbow tendinitis, a shoulder impingement, and most recently an elbow strain last September.

The RHP is coming off the strongest season of his career with Miami. In 2025, he went 8–7 with a 3.53 ERA, striking out 150 batters across a career-high 137⅔ innings over 26 starts. He averaged 96.9 mph on his fastball last season, placing him among the top tier of major-league pitchers in velocity. He also ranked well above league average in strikeout rate, chase rate, whiff rate, and groundball percentage. His curveball and slider each generated swinging-strike rates north of 40%.  Over parts of five major-league seasons, Cabrera has compiled a 25–29 record with a 4.07 ERA, 478 strikeouts in 431⅔ innings, and 7.1 WAR.

Cabrera will join a Cubs rotation that already features Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Cade Horton. Colin Rea provides additional depth, while left-hander Justin Steele is expected to return later in the season following Tommy John surgery.

Chicago is coming off a 92-win season, its highest since 2018. The Cubs open the regular season on March 26 against the Washington Nationals.

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