BREAKING: Cubs pushing to finalize Edward Cabrera trade, top prospect Owen Caissie headed to Miami
The Cubs are moving. I am told Chicago is finalizing a deal to land Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera, with outfielder Owen Caissie as the headline piece going back. This is a bold bet on run prevention, cost control, and winning the NL Central in 2026. It also marks a clear shift toward pitching certainty, even if it means parting with a premium bat.
What Cabrera brings, and why it matters now
Cabrera is 27, entering his prime, and coming off a strong 2025. He posted a 3.53 ERA and looked like a stable mid-rotation presence. He misses bats, keeps the ball in the park, and held up over the grind last season. The Cubs have needed exactly this type of dependable starter, someone who takes the ball and gives the bullpen a clean handoff.
Wrigley Field rewards pitchers who attack the zone. Cabrera’s recent trend has been better command and fewer big innings. That will play on the North Side. Slot him with the current group, and the rotation gets balance and bite. It also gives manager flexibility with matchups and rest.
Cabrera is under team control through at least 2028, a rare window for a pitcher with this upside.
This is also a message to the room. Pitching depth wins in September. Chicago is paying for the floor and the ceiling, not just the dream.
The cost, the calculus, and the clubhouse message
Make no mistake, dealing Owen Caissie stings. He is a top prospect for a reason. He has real power, an advanced approach for his age, and corner outfield strength. Many in the game see a future middle-order bat. That profile is hard to replace internally, and everyone in the building knows it.
So why do it now? Because flags live on banners, not in prospect lists. The Cubs see a division that is there to be taken. They see a rotation that needed one more proven arm. They see a window that can stay open through 2028 if pitching leads the way. Trading a premium bat for a controllable starter is risky, but it fits a team that plans to win with the run allowed column.
If Caissie pops quickly, this price will be second-guessed. The Cubs are betting on run prevention aging better than power.
The bullpen tells the rest of the story
This move fits the broader plan. Chicago has been busy remaking the bullpen with a volume approach. The front office added righty Phil Maton on a two-year deal. They brought in lefty Hoby Milner on a one-year pact. They also claimed lefty Ryan Rolison on waivers to deepen the 40-man pool. These are targeted, low-risk adds that help cover 162 games.
The idea is simple. Stack strike throwers, carry multiple looks, and shorten games for the rotation. Maton brings calm and spin. Milner gives a tough angle on lefties and late leverage options. Rolison is depth, but useful depth, and the Cubs have won with that type before. If Cabrera arrives, the staff map changes. Seven strong from the rotation, then mix and match with fresh arms and favorable lanes.
- Key relief additions this winter: Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Ryan Rolison, plus internal power arms competing for roles.
The NL Central picture, and how this shifts the odds
The betting markets have already liked the Cubs this winter. The current projection sits at 88.5 wins, tops in the division. A Cabrera deal does not just nudge the line, it clarifies the plan. The Cardinals are retooling. The Brewers are reshaping. The Reds are rising but young. The division is gettable if Chicago throws strikes, catches the ball, and wins close games.
Cabrera’s value is not only on his start day. It is what he does for the schedule. He can stabilize a week, protect the bullpen, and anchor series on the road. That is how you stack wins to 90 and beyond. That is how you turn August into a march, not a scramble.
For this deal to pay off, the Cubs need innings quality from Cabrera, fewer free passes, and a bullpen that holds its shape.
The bottom line
This is a line-in-the-dirt move by the Cubs. They are trading tomorrow’s thunder for today’s strike zone. If completed, Edward Cabrera becomes a rotation pillar through 2028. The bullpen is deeper. The path in the NL Central is clearer. There is risk, there always is, but the vision is sharp. Pitch, defend, and let Wrigley shake in October.
Final steps are in motion. Medicals and final terms are being handled today. Expect confirmation from the club once paperwork clears. I will have the next update as soon as the deal is signed.
