Cubs Land Edward Cabrera: Fantasy Baseball Impact of the Cubs–Marlins Trade

The Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins completed a pretty big trade on Wednesday, so let's break the deal down from a fantasy baseball perspective.

The Cubs received Edward Cabrera in the deal, while the Marlins got Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon.

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Cabrera Fantasy Breakdown

Cabrera is a 27-year-old right-handed starting pitcher who has five years of MLB experience (all with the Marlins).

He has made 87 starts over his 89 MLB appearances. Cabrera is 25-29 with a 4.07 earned run average over 431 2/3 innings. He has 478 strikeouts and 216 walks allowed so far.

He flashed some potential in 2022 (his first MLB season) with a 3.01 ERA over 14 starts, but then posted 4.24 and 4.95 ERAs in 2023 and 2024.

Cabrera improved in a big way in 2025, posting a 3.53 ERA over 26 starts. He had 150 punchouts over 137 2/3 innings. His 1.23 WHIP was the best mark he posted since his 2022 season.

Cabrera was a pretty good fantasy asset while with Miami, and now has an increased fantasy outlook by joining a better team. He'll slot into the top end of the Cubs' rotation, and has a chance to post a career season in 2026 with a better team around him.

He should be a pretty solid fantasy draft pick coming into the year, so it'll be interesting to see where he's drafted now. The trade to the Cubs definitely means he will be going at least a few picks earlier.

With Cabrera nearing his prime and now entering into the best fantasy situation of his career, he's going to be a highly sought-after fantasy pitcher in 2026. Hopefully he doesn't go too early in drafts, so we can get some good draft value out of him.

Caissie, Hernandez and De Leon Fantasy Breakdowns

Miami did well for letting a young and good pitcher go, getting a couple big-time prospects.

Caissie is now the Marlins' No. 3 prospect after the trade. Caissie ranks 47th overall among prospects.

He made his MLB debut with Chicago in 2025, appearing in 12 games, but posting just a .192 average and .222 on-base percentage. Over five minor league seasons, Caissie has a .280 average and .384 OBP. 

Caissie has some pop to his game, but also strikes out a good amount. He can swipe a few bases, but that's not a huge part of his game. He's an above-average prospect, and now will have a better shot at playing time in Miami.

Caissie will have to battle for playing time, but he figures to at least be a platoon option in the outfield to kick off the season. The 23-year-old, left-handed hitting outfielder will be battling several others for the final outfield spot, with Jakob Marsee and Kyle Stowers looking pretty locked in to starting roles already.

The trade definitely helps Caissie have a better chance at contributing right away in the 2026 season, but the move to a weaker lineup also brings his fantasy outlook down a bit. I see him as a deep-league option to kick off 2026, with standard league upside if he excels in spring training or starts the regular season hot.

Hernandez is the Marlins' No. 12 prospect after the trade.

The 22-year-old middle infielder has played four years in the minor leagues so far. He's topped out at High-A ball, so he has more minor league seasoning before he'd be ready to make a jump to the big leagues.

He owns a career .252 average and .342 OBP in the minor leagues. Hernandez has a little pop to his game, while being an above-average base stealer. He strikes out a fair amount, but also draws a decent amount of walks, so that could help offset lower averages.

Hernandez has a clearer path to the big leagues after being traded to Miami, but we are still probably more than a year away from his MLB debut. That makes him an asset in keeper/dynasty leagues for now, but a player to remember down the line.

De Leon is not ranked among the Marlins' top-30 prospects after the trade. He could get there someday, as he's just 18 years old right now.

He has 91 games of minor league ball under his belt, and owns a .276 average and .395 OBP so far. De Leon has 10 homers and 10 stolen bases so far.

He has played first and third base, plus left and right field in his time with the Cubs. That position versatility gives him a better chance to get called up someday if he continues to hit and flash his tools.

Final Thoughts

The trade was a pretty big one, and makes sense for both organizations.

Miami cashed in on a pitcher who wouldn't have much value on a rebuilding team. The Marlins sold him high after a big 2025 season, and got a good return.

Caissie has a chance to make the deal worth it on his own, and should start getting regular MLB playing time in 2026 with Miami. He's a player to keep tabs on in spring training and throughout the regular season to see if he can live up to his high-end prospect status.

Hernandez has dropped a bit as a prospect, so we'll see if a change of scenery does him well and he can unlock his potential.

De Leon is several years off from making a fantasy impact, but he's a player to watch, as teams don't just trade for players for no reason.

Cabrera is the best fantasy asset in the trade for now, and gets a fantasy boost from the deal. Again, we just have to hope joining the Cubs doesn't turn him into an overrated fantasy option going into the season.