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Cubs Trade Of Edward Cabrera An Early Lose-Lose Deal
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- Cubs Trade Of Edward Cabrera An Early Lose-Lose Deal
The Chicago Cubs tried to fix their pitching last offseason with a big trade.
The Cubs traded away their top prospect in Owen Caissie to acquire Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. Cabrera was seen as a rising pitcher who had the chance to take that next step in 2026.
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Unfortunately, Cabrera never did.
The 28-year-old right-hander was one of the most disappointing players on this Cubs team this past season. After posting a 3.53 ERA, 1.228 WHIP, and 150 strikeouts across 137 ⅔ innings pitched in his final season with the Marlins in 2025, Cabrera's numbers regressed significantly.
He finished with a 5.96 ERA, 1.488 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts in 18 appearances (15 starts) for the North Siders in 2026. His metrics were down across the board, and Cabrera was not that top-of-the-line starting pitcher that the Cubs were hoping for.
Cabrera ranked in the eighth percentile in expected ERA (5.40), 10th percentile in expected batting average against (.273), third percentile in average exit velocity (90.9 mph), 34th percentile in strikeout rate (20.3%), 25th percentile in walk rate (10.3%), second percentile in barrel rate (11.7%), and 17th percentile in hard-hit rate (42.5%).
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The big difference for Cabrera from 2025 to 2026 was his swing-and-miss stuff. In 2025, he had a 73rd percentile chase rate (30.2%), a 78th percentile whiff rate (29.4%), and a 74th percentile strikeout rate (25.8%). In 2026, his whiff rate (26.5%) and strikeout rate were down several percentage points.
Cabrera simply wasn't the same pitcher the team traded for last offseason. He threw the ball well in his first two starts with the Cubs (11 ⅔ shutout innings with nine strikeouts), but those strong performances on the mound didn't continue. From April 11 to June 23, the young right-hander posted a 6.08 ERA over 60 ⅔ innings (12 starts).
Cabrera also spent some time on the injured list with two different injuries. He missed a little over two weeks with a middle-finger blister in late May, spent over six weeks on the injured list in the summer with a hamstring strain, and missed another few weeks with that same blister issue in August.
It was really a disappointing season for Cabrera. However, he still figures to be part of the Cubs' rotation next season, as it stands now. With Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, and Matthew Boyd all set to hit free agency, the North Siders will need their young pitcher to step up .
