The waiting ended for the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, as the team made its first major splash of the offseason by acquiring right-handed starter Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. In exchange, the Marlins receive a trio of hitting prospects headlined by big-league-ready outfielder Owen Caissie, alongside lower-level infielders Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon.

The move directly addresses the Cubs' most glaring offseason need: adding impact talent to a rotation that required reinforcement beyond the retained Shota Imanaga. After a winter focused on rebuilding a depleted bullpen, the acquisition of Cabrera signals President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer's intent to contend in 2026.

For the Cubs: A High-Risk, High-Reward Rotation Gamble
Cabrera, 27, represents the quintessential projectable arm. Long hailed for his elite velocity and tantalizing stuff—featuring one of baseball's best curveballs and a devastating 94-mph changeup—he finally delivered on that potential in 2025. After a rocky April, he posted a 2.95 ERA over his final 119 innings, demonstrating improved command with a career-low walk rate.

The catch is a significant and well-documented injury history, including past elbow and shoulder issues and a late-season elbow sprain in 2025. The Cubs, who famously backed out of a deal for Jesús Luzardo last year due to medical concerns, are clearly betting that their player development and medical staff can help Cabrera maintain both his health and his newfound effectiveness. With three years of club control remaining, the upside is a frontline starter; the risk is another arm unable to handle a full season's workload.

For the Marlins: Securing a Big-League Bat for Today
Miami's return centers on immediate offensive help. Owen Caissie, 23, is a powerful left-handed hitter who torched Triple-A pitching (.887 OPS) but was blocked in Chicago's crowded outfield. His elite power and patient approach come with swing-and-miss concerns, but he projects to step directly into the Marlins' lineup, joining other trade-success stories like Kyle Stowers.

The inclusion of former top international signee Cristian Hernandez and power-hitting teen Edgardo De Leon adds future lottery tickets, but this deal is a clear vote of confidence in Caissie's bat. For a Marlins team with a surplus of young pitching, converting from an oft-injured starter to a potential middle-of-the-order hitter represents a logical reshaping of the roster.

The Unanswered Question in Chicago
While the Cubs solidify their rotation, the trade amplifies a looming question: who will replace the offensive production of departed star Kyle Tucker? By dealing their most MLB-ready hitting prospect, the Cubs have created a more glaring hole in their outfield and lineup, suggesting another significant position-player move may be necessary before the season begins.

This trade is a classic high-stakes exchange—the Cubs bet on premium pitching upside despite injury red flags, while the Marlins cash in a volatile asset for a power bat they believe can impact their lineup immediately.