The Chicago Cubs aren’t planning to sit on their hands this offseason.
At the GM meetings in Las Vegas earlier this week, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters, “We’re going to have an active offseason. Take that for what it’s worth.”
For a fan base that’s heard variations of that promise before, the statement lands with equal parts hope and skepticism. History shows that the clubs who swing the biggest checks earliest in free agency don’t always come away with the best roster in March—much less October. Patience, rather than panic, often separates the eventual contenders from the early-season headline grabbers.
Unlike the Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers—who can more comfortably absorb an occasional overpay—the Cubs are operating with a tighter margin for error. Every dollar committed in free agency has to be close to perfect. That financial discipline is a big reason why Chicago’s front office is expected to lean heavily on the trade market, where they can acquire years of control without handing out nine-figure guarantees.
One name that keeps surfacing as a logical fit: Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera.
Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic pointed out that the Marlins remain an obvious trade partner for the Cubs, thanks to Miami’s surplus of pitching talent and their ongoing desire to retool for the future. The two clubs were engaged in serious discussions at last year’s trade deadline, and sources indicated that Cabrera was the arm the Cubs “showed the most interest in.”
Chicago’s belief in Cabrera runs deeper than a simple deadline dalliance. Inside the organization, there’s conviction that the 27-year-old still has a higher gear he hasn’t yet reached, especially if he spends a couple of seasons refining his considerable gifts under the Cubs’ pitching infrastructure.
The raw material is undeniable. In 2025, Cabrera posted an 8-7 record with a sharp 3.53 ERA across 26 starts, fanning 150 hitters in 137⅔ innings. His fastball touches triple digits, his changeup dives off the table, and his slider has late bite—stuff that routinely shows up as plus or better on scouting reports. With four years of club control remaining and ace-level potential still on the table, he represents exactly the kind of high-upside, cost-controlled arm the Cubs covet.
If the Cubs were already the most aggressive suitor for Cabrera a few months ago, it’s not hard to imagine those talks picking up again now that the offseason is in full swing. Jed Hoyer’s public pledge of activity could be the final nudge that turns interest into action.
For a rotation that needs both present help and future cornerstone pieces, bringing Cabrera to the North Side would check both boxes—and it could be accomplished without breaking the bank in free agency.
In a winter where Chicago plans to be aggressive on its own terms, a trade for Edward Cabrera might end up being the loudest move of all.
