The Chicago Cubs will be one of the more active teams at this summer’s MLB trade deadline. They are sitting atop the NL Central, have a plethora of personnel in their organization with uncertain futures, and have the assets to make moves happen. There has been plenty of speculation around what they will do at the end of July, and recent injury news could impact what they shift their focus to. Reports are emerging about the Chicago Cubs’ interest in Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera.
Chicago Cubs Interested in Edward Cabrera
The injury to Jameson Taillon, the setbacks for Javier Assad, and the season-long absence of Justin Steele have created a vacuum in the Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation. So far, they have been able to plug the holes with Colin Rea, Cade Horton, and a group of veterans overperforming out of the bullpen. If the Cubs want to shore up their pitching staff for the second half of the season. However, they are going to need reinforcements, and they are reported to be actively looking at a Miami starting pitcher to fit that role. It may not be the pitcher you’re thinking of, though.
The Chicago Cubs had been rumored to be looking at Sandy Alcantara as a possible trade deadline acquisition over the last couple of weeks. Their search has moved to a different pitcher in the Miami Marlins’ starting rotation in recent days, however. Edward Cabrera may be the new top trade target for the Chicago Cubs. MLB insider Francys Romero has reported that the Cubs and the New York Mets are the top two suitors for the breakout pitcher’s services.
Inside Cabrera’s Breakout Season
Cabrera is in the middle of his best season as a big leaguer. As a former top prospect, Cabrera is a late bloomer at 27 years old, but his electric arm is going to be one of the most intriguing storylines ahead of the deadline. So far in 2025, Cabrera is 3-3 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 78.1 innings across 15 starts. His upper-90’s fastball and wipeout slider are his top two pitches, but he also mixes in a low-90’s change-up and mid-80’s breaking ball. In his fifth MLB season, Cabrera has put together quite the campaign, and teams like the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets are taking notice.
With Cabrera having multiple years of club control after 2025, the asking price from the Miami Marlins will be high. The Mets are always aggressive, and as they sit a half game back in the NL East, they could view Cabrera as the edge to get them over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Chicago Cubs are leading the NL Central. If they can land Cabrera, not only could that help their ailing starting rotation, but it could help redistribute assets to their bullpen. Having Cabrera could free up pitchers like Colin Rea, Chris Flexen, Cade Horton, or Ben Brown to contribute to the bullpen.
In a season where the future of the front office and the future of Kyle Tucker is uncertain, the Chicago Cubs may be incentivized to go after Cabrera aggressively. They have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball, along with some expendable players on the active roster. The reports on their interest in Cabrera could heat up as we get closer to the trade deadline, and injury news on other pitchers on the team becomes clearer. It may be time to go all-in on the north side of “The Windy City.”
