Marlins trade Edward Cabrera to Cubs for Owen Caissie, 2 more prospects

[Kevin Barral]

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.

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[Brock Beauchamp]

If anyone is interested, here is the Owen Caissie page from North Side Baseball:

Owen Caissie - 2025 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects Ranking - North Side Baseball

NORTHSIDEBASEBALL.COM

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2024 Season Review - Owen Caissie - RF/1B/DH Owen Caissie had a season that we can effectively split in two, and both showed some positives and some negatives. Caissie, who earned a...

 

[Jose Herrera]

Farewell Cabby😿

[1993 fan from start]

don't mean nothing till we hear the return.  

[Slacker Mills]

I'm confused. Cabrera is certainly an above average pitcher. OwenC is no better than Troy Johnston, am I right?

[Shawn]

Wanting to see the return, with that said think this is the right move. I always liked cabby but I don’t believe he’ll ever throw more than 150 innings. The blisters issues, shoulder problems, and now elbow problems. I’ve always thought he was destined for the bullpen. Best of luck cabby 

[NewMarlinsFan]

Perhaps the Cubs #7 prospect, the right handed first baseman will be part of the deal.  

[Jose Herrera]

@Slacker Mills Ideally Caissie will be like Tyler Soderstrom. 

 

[2qbn]

I hope the Red Rooster can hit this season. He still has some minor league seasons available, so he could start in AAA and then get called up, but this move needs to hit (pun intended). 

[Guest]

Well now we know that the Marlins DO NOT INTEND TO COMPETE THIS YEAR. If this organization was seriously going to try to compete with the other teams in the National League they would have at least started the year with a pitching staff anchored by Sandy, Eury, and Cabrera. With those three potential Aces leading the pitching staff, the Fish COULD HAVE HAD THE BEST STARTING PITCHING STAFF IN THEIR DIVISION. They could have started the year with those three and if it didn't work out, this trade could have been made on July 31!

By trading Cabrera NOW, before the season even starts, Bendix is telling the few Marlins fans that are left: "SORRY, NOT THIS YEAR! We are going to suck this year."

And what will happen next year, and the year after that , and the year after that? The same exact thing. The Marlins spent 5 YEARS DEVELOPING CABRERA INTO AN ACE only to GIVE HIM AWAY because that's what they do. This team is nothing more than a Quadruple A Team, developing players for the REAL TEAMS.

 

[NewMarlinsFan]

I hate trading pitching, but in this situation its called for.   They have at least two outstanding pitching prospects that between them need at least half a season of playing time this season.  Cabrera has serious question marks as to just how much value he will provide going forward.   Its a bit of a forced trade because in return they may be getting a serious hitter/not bad defender who has some flexibility where he can play.   The timing of getting this young player in relation to where they are at is perfect.

And we can never confuse the Marlins with a high revenue team that chews up highly rated prospects simply because they believe they have to make the playoffs every year.   Giving prospects a long runway to succeed will always be part of the deal.  

[NewMarlinsFan]

Marlins did really, really well.   Three prospects with major potential all.   The headliner is MLB ready, then a 22 and a 18 year old.  So I am sure the thought process included smoothing out the minor league system.  Good trade for Cubs too. For Marlins fans, Eddy is too uncertain to keep around.

[Slacker Mills]

Major League pitching will whip Caissie like a red-haired stepchild, Really embarrassing trade for the Marlins.

[NewMarlinsFan]

Lets remember, Marlins could have traded Sandy.   But he is more of a sure thing then Cabrera.  So Marlins are giving themselves a chance this season.  

[1993 fan from start]

Hope if Marlins sing SP. It's not like last year singing.

Maybe this go long way to extandining a player or two lol

[Miami Italiano]

If Stowers can turn it around last year, Caissie can get that BA and OBP up this year.

[One Regend]

This trade is a vote of confidence of Robby Snelling and Thomas White.

It's possible this clears the runway so they can take up the mantle.

I don't doubt that Owen Caissie is talented (many of y'all are forgetting he OPS'd over .900 twice in recent years), but my bigger concern is... why are they trading for an outfielder? Don't they realize they still have Kemp Alderman? 1B is still a black hole, and I have no faith in Pauley at 3rd, even if his glove is plus.

Put in that perspective, this trade is rather perplexing.

[Hans Herrera]

I hate this, I do. But I also understand it, Caissie is too appealing to miss out. Either him or Conine will have to see time at 1B.

In any case, that takes the Marlins’ chances to make the playoffs… at least with the current roster. There is still time to acquire a bullpen arm or two, and maybe a veteran starter.

Goodbye, Eddy. Miami will miss you.

[MRDHU75]

Its a great move! We have more than enough pitching depth to lose Cabrera, so we have to make sure those guys get ready.

Here is my projection for the lineup, bench and rotation

1B Morel; 2B Edwards; SS Lopez; 3B Norby or Pauley; LF Caissie; CF Marsee; RF Stowers, DH Conine; C Ramirez

Rotation: Alcantara, Perez, Garrett, Weathers, Meyer/Junk

Bench: Hicks, Hernandez, Sanoja, Ruiz 

[David Slaton]

Anytime you get a team's number one prospect, that has the potential to be a great trade. Cabrera is a solid pitcher, but there are too many question marks about him. This is the way to build a team. Very impressed.

[MarlinzDude86]

4 hours ago, David Slaton said:

Anytime you get a team's number one prospect, that has the potential to be a great trade. Cabrera is a solid pitcher, but there are too many question marks about him. This is the way to build a team. Very impressed.

That's my take too. Cassie is a #1 prospect for a reason. Plus, it's about current team needs. We need more runs, Cubs need more pitchers. Our team still needs a solid 1B but it's never going to be perfect.

I'm happy with how the offseason is going. Sad to see Eddy go though.