The Chicago Cubs have began the 2026 season as one of many hottest groups in baseball, regardless of coping with numerous accidents to their pitching workers. 10 pitchers have made journeys to the IL this yr, but the Cubs nonetheless managed to guide a tightly contested NL Central with a 27-16 document.
Popping out of the gate, Edward Cabrera seemed like he may be a steal for the Cubs. He solely gave up 3 runs in his first three begins, however has cooled off with a much less constant Might. Fortuitously for Cabrera, his finest skill has been availability.
Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and prime prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this yr, whereas Cabrera has been an enormous innings eater on the very least for the Cubs, going at the least 5 innings in each look this season.
Chicago is clearly nonetheless needing extra out of Cabrera, however their offseason acquisition for him is at the moment wanting like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the middle piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon had been the opposite items within the deal, however they’re a few years away from reaching the massive leagues, in the event that they ever do.
Caissie was purported to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, however has been something however that to begin his tenure with the Marlins. He’s at the moment slashing .205/.259/.348 with three residence runs. Not solely that, however regardless of the apparent intangibles he can convey together with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into manufacturing on protection, as he has been one of many worst place gamers within the sport.
He at the moment has -5 fielding run worth, the worst within the sport, first percentile arm worth, and fifth percentile vary, all whereas taking part in one of many best defensive positions within the sport. The Marlins didn’t commerce for his protection; they traded for the bat, and that has some large issues as effectively.
A excessive strikeout price could be ignored if there’s sufficient manufacturing, however that isn’t the case. Caissie at the moment holds a 40.7 Okay%, which could be attributed to a whiff% within the eighth percentile. He additionally holds a virtually 40% floor ball price, so even when he’s hitting it onerous, it hasn’t been very productive.
Primarily, I believe the Cubs offered excessive on a prospect and landed a man ready of want in Cabrera. Chicago appears to be ready to contend this season, and so they would possibly must swing for an additional front-line starter on the deadline. For now, they discovered a really strong center of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as effectively.
