Cubs gamble on pitcher Edward Cabrera, trading away outfield prospect Owen Caissie. Will this bold move pay off, or will Caissie haunt Chicago?
One of the biggest moves the Chicago Cubs made this offseason was acquiring Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins.
The Cubs needed a frontline starter, and Cabrera has the tools to settle into a top-of-the-line starting pitcher. He just put together the best numbers of his career in 2025, finishing with a 3.53 ERA and 150 strikeouts across 137 ⅔ innings.
However, that move came at the expense of losing top prospect Owen Caissie.
Caissie was expected to be Chicago’s outfielder of the future. He showed glimpses of his potential in his limited Major League at-bats last year and was set to take over as the team’s starting right fielder as soon as 2027.
With both Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki set to become free agents after this year, Caissie was going to be a starter at one of the corner outfield spots for the Cubs. He was also going to see consistent at-bats this season with Kyle Tucker departing in free agency.
Now, though, the Cubs have to watch Caissie dominate for another organization. The 23-year-old is off to a fantastic start in his first full Major League season with the Marlins.
Caissie went 1-for-4 with one double and one RBI in his first start on Friday and then went 3-for-4 with one double, one RBI, and one stolen base on Saturday against the Rockies. Across those eight plate appearances, he is hitting the ball hard and showing much more discipline at the plate.
While it is so early into the season, getting rid of Caissie could prove to be a huge loss for the Cubs down the line. He’s someone who could be a really good big league hitter in his career.
In his last Minor League season, Caissie slashed .286/.386/.551 with 22 home runs, 28 doubles, 55 RBI, and five stolen bases across 99 games with the Iowa Cubs. With an elite bat speed (74.8 mph) and a high barrel rate (13.3%), he has the skillset to do a lot of damage at the plate.
Whether the Cubs will regret losing Caissie will all depend on Cabrera. If he turns into a top-of-the-line starting pitcher, the North Siders won’t regret this trade. If Cabrera struggles with consistency, though, all eyes will be on Jed Hoyer.
Cabrera will make his first Cubs start on Monday against the Angels. The team would love nothing more than to see its offseason addition begin the season on a high note.