Cubs facing criticism after pulling off Edward Cabrera trade

Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs finally pulled off their first major move of the MLB offseason on Wednesday, pulling off a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins for young starting pitcher Edward Cabrera.

Over the last year, the Cubs have been connected as a potential suitor for Cabrera on multiple occasions. He is under team control for three more years and is just 27 years old. Those qualities are exactly what Hoyer and Chicago have consistently looked for over the years.

Entering the offseason, the Cubs were widely expected to pursue an upgrade for their starting rotation. Being able to acquire Cabrera was one of the best-case scenarios.

Despite the trade for Cabrera obviously making Chicago a better team, the Cubs are receiving criticism for the move. In order to get the deal done, the organization had to give up top-tier outfield prospect Owen Caissie. That hasn’t sat well with some.

Sam Phalen of Roundtable Sports has taken to social media to share criticism for Chicago. He thinks giving up Caissie made the trade an overpay for the Cubs.

“Owen Caissie in this deal is really bad value for the Cubs and a massive win for the Marlins,” Phalen wrote on X.

There is no way to acquire a talented player via a trade than by giving up talent. Caissie did not have a clear path to playing time in Chicago due to a stacked outfield. He could have been a key part of the team’s long-term future, but the Cubs want to win now.

Cabrera, on the other hand, will make the team a much more serious contender in 2026.

In 2025 with the Marlins, Cabrera made 26 starts. He compiled an 8-7 record with a 3.53 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, a 3.1 K/BB ratio, and 137.2 innings pitched. Add in the fact that he’s a starting pitcher who can consistently throw at 100 miles per hour and things look even more dynamic.

Granted, no trade is every a sure thing. This move could end up looking bad for Chicago down the road. However, for now, it appears that the Cubs got better today.