Talks Between Yankees, Marlins for Potential Cubs Target Edward Cabrera Have ‘Intensified’

Multiple reports have the Yankees and Marlins engaged in talks for hard-throwing righty Edward Cabrera, and it sounds like this is more than just smoke. Chris Kirschner and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic were first with the Yankees connection to Cabrera, after which Craig Mish of Sports Grid — who is as plugged in as anyone on Marlins news — confirmed the interest. Yahoo’s Russell Dorsey then noted that “talks have intensified” between New York and Miami, though nothing is imminent.

Kirschner and Rosenthal also reported that the Yankees are keeping talks open with the Brewers on Freddy Peralta, who might not be an alternative to Cabrera. This might just be a negotiating tactic from Brian Cashman, as it’s hard to see them ponying up the massive prospect haul it would take to acquire two starters via trade, but it’s pretty clear the Yanks are trying to add at least one starter.

The Cubs have long been connected to Cabrera, who is under control via arbitration for three more seasons. His expected salary for 2026 is only around $4 million, so his addition would hardly impact payroll this coming season while remaining very reasonable over the next two years. On the flip side, that means he’ll command a big return in prospects and/or MLB-level players.

Reports at the trade deadline had the Yankees asking for 24-year-old outfielder Spencer Jones, ranked No. 4 in the system by MLB Pipeline, who had a very rough finish to the ’25 season. The Marlins would likely want a pitcher in return as well, and Ben Hess has been mentioned as a possibility there. Hess, a 23-year-old righty, is ranked No. 6 in New York’s system.

The Cubs don’t have nearly as much pitching talent as the Yankees, who have six righties and two lefties among their top 11 prospects, so any conversations about Cabrera would probably have to start with Jaxon Wiggins and someone from a mix of Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcántara, Jonathon Long, James Triantos, and maybe Ethan Conrad. Other than Wiggins, the Cubs’ No. 3 overall prospect and top pitcher in the system, only righty Brandon Birdsell (No. 9) ranks in the top 12.

While that would be a very steep price to pay, the 27-year-old Cabrera is a dynamic starter coming off his best season with a lot of room to grow. As fun as it is to dream on what Wiggins can be, the fact of the matter is that you can’t just sit around and expect every prospect to reach their potential in the bigs. Remember former top pitching prospect Brailyn Márquez? How about Caleb Kilian? They combined for -0.1 fWAR over 28 total innings in parts of four seasons.

Márquez hasn’t pitched professionally since 2023 and Kilian just signed a minor league deal with the Giants, the team from whom the Cubs acquired him. As you surely recall, Kilian and Alexander Canario came to the Cubs in exchange for Kris Bryant. Canario just posted -0.5 fWAR with a 68 wRC+ over 234 plate appearances with the Pirates last season. Prospects certainly can and do pan out, but the Cubs seem to have a knack for holding onto them until they’ve outlasted their value.

This might be a situation in which the ship has sailed, but I would love to see Jed Hoyer pull off a deal to land the kind of starter who can boost the rotation this season and protect against attrition in years to come. In that regard, Cabrera is a helluva lot more attractive than Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, or a number of other mid-tier free agents who offer little more than depth.

Or, you know, Hoyer can just hug those prospects so tight that they pass out and are never heard from again. But if they do somehow all end up becoming superstars in Chicago, which isn’t very likely from a statistical standpoint, the 2032 season will be a banger.