The Chicago Cubs made a significant move by acquiring right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins to bolster their rotation. In exchange for Cabrera, the Cubs traded outfielder Owen Caissie and infield prospects Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon to Miami.
Caissie, a 23-year-old player from Burlington, Ont., who debuted in the majors in August, showed promise by hitting .192 in 12 games with the Cubs. Cabrera, on the other hand, had an impressive record with the Marlins last year, going 8-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 26 starts and 137 2/3 innings.
Cabrera, who will be turning 28 in April, brings depth to the Cubs’ pitching rotation, which already includes talented pitchers like Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Cade Horton, and Jameson Taillon. The team is also considering options with Colin Rea and Javier Assad, while Justin Steele is recovering from left elbow surgery.
Despite some injury concerns, including recurring blisters on his right middle finger, Cabrera’s addition is expected to strengthen the Cubs’ pitching staff. Meanwhile, Caissie was set to compete for playing time in right field, especially with the potential departure of Kyle Tucker in free agency.
The Cubs finished second in the National League Central last season with a 92-70 record, making it to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 before being eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series. Miami, under manager Clayton McCullough, showed improvement with a 17-game jump in wins from the previous season, led by pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez.
Hernandez, a 22-year-old infielder who played for High A South Bend, had a solid season batting .252 with seven home runs and 53 RBIs. De Leon, an 18-year-old prospect, showcased his skills in the Arizona Complex League with a .276 batting average, five home runs, and 15 RBIs in 43 games.