The Chicago Cubs have acquired right-hander Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins in a trade that sends their top prospect Owen Caissie and two other hitting prospects to Miami.
The deal is done and official, pending Cabrera’s physical, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. ESPN’s Jeff Passan confirmed the Cubs included two additional hitting prospects in the package.
The Chicago Cubs have acquired right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins that sends top outfield prospect Owen Caissie and two other hitting prospects to Miami, sources tell ESPN. Deal is done and official. Players are being informed now.
This is a significant move for both clubs, but the price tag has some Cubs fans wondering if they gave up too much.
Caissie ranked as Chicago’s No. 1 prospect by MLB.com and sits at No. 49 overall in the sport. The 6-foot-3 Canadian got his first taste of the majors in 2025, appearing in 12 games and going 5-for-26 with one home run.
But it’s what he did at Triple-A Iowa that really caught everyone’s attention.
The 23-year-old outfielder hit .286 with 28 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs, and 55 RBI in 99 games. His .937 OPS shows just how dominant he was at that level. Caissie’s versatility across all three outfield spots makes him even more valuable, and he’ll likely slot right into Miami’s Opening Day lineup.
So what are the Cubs getting back? Cabrera is a 27-year-old right-hander coming off a solid 2025 season with a 3.53 ERA. He’s got good stuff and should help stabilize Chicago’s rotation.
The thing is, Cabrera isn’t viewed as an ace-level pitcher. He’s more of a reliable mid-rotation guy who can eat innings and keep you competitive. That’s valuable, sure, but trading your top prospect for that kind of pitcher is always risky.
From where I’m sitting, this feels like the Cubs decided they needed immediate help more than they needed to wait on Caissie’s development. With their competitive window potentially narrowing, they’re prioritizing the present over the future.
The way I see it, Miami gets the better end of this deal on paper. They’re adding a potential impact bat who’s already shown he can handle Triple-A pitching, plus two other hitting prospects to bolster their system.
For Chicago, the success of this trade will depend entirely on how Cabrera performs and whether he helps them take the next step. If he struggles or gets hurt, giving up Caissie will look like a costly mistake.
Time will tell if the Cubs made the right call here.
