The Miami Marlins traded right-handed starting pitcher Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Outfield prospect Owen Caissie is the centerpiece of the package coming to Miami, joined by shortstop prospect Cristian Hernández and infield prospect Edgardo De Leon. The clubs have yet to make the deal official.
Cabrera, who the Marlins signed for $100,000 in 2015, finally broke out in 2025 after inconsistencies with his command and control. He posted a 3.53 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 9.81 K/9 and 3.14 BB/9 in a career-high 137 ⅔ innings pitched. It marked the first time in Cabrera’s career that he surpassed the 100-inning threshold. His walk rate was also the lowest of his career.
The main concern is his injury history. Cabrera was placed on the injured list twice last season alone, first in March with a right middle finger blister and late into the season, he suffered a right elbow sprain. Many assumed that would not only knock him out for the remainder of the 2025 season, but jeopardize all of 2026 due to possible surgery. Instead, Cabrera returned on September 22, making two more starts, going four innings against the Philadelphia Phillies and five innings against the New York Mets to close out the season.
President of baseball operations Peter Bendix would be taking a gamble by moving Cabrera, who is capable of having an even better season in 2026, but the Marlins are also banking on their crop of talented, less experienced starters—including top prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling—to keep the team competitive.
Cabrera is projected to make $3.7M in 2026 via arbitration and will be under club control through 2028.
Northside Baseball ranked Caissie as the No. 1 overall prospect in the Cubs organization. At the Triple-A level last season, he slashed .286/.386/.551/.937 with 22 home runs, five stolen bases and a 139 wRC+ in 99 games. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter played 12 games at the major league level. He slashed .192/.222/.346/.568 in that limited opportunity.
Hernández, a 22-year old shortstop prospect, is ranked 16th on Baseball America’s recently released top 30 prospects list. MLB Pipeline has Hernández ranked 11th. He spent the entire 2025 season in High-A, slashing .252/.329/.365/.694 with seven home runs, 53 RBI, 54 stolen bases and a 99 wRC+. He was regarded as the fifth-best prospect in the 2021 international signing class, per Pipeline.
As for De Leon, he slashed .276/.353/.500/.853 with five home runs, 15 RBI and a 118 wRC+ in the complex league. Standing at 6’0,” 170 pounds, De Leon played first and third base, with some outfield sprinkled in as well. This is what you can call a throw in with some upside to see what you can get.
In addition to the Cubs, Cabrera’s other reported suitors this offseason included the New York Yankees, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.
With the trade, the Marlins Opening Day starting rotation now projects to be Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Ryan Weathers, Max Meyer and Janson Junk. A source has told Fish On First that the Marlins could sign a veteran starting pitcher in free agency for additional depth, similar to what they did with bringing in Cal Quantrill last year.