Cerami: Cubs Finalizing Edward Cabrera Trade

[CubUgly]

16 minutes ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

Boyd, Horton, Cabrera, Shota, Taillon, Rea, Wicks, Brown, Assad, and (eventually) Steele and Wiggins is nice depth. Given options, Steele’s injury recovery timing, Wiggins’ readiness, etc., is keeping all of them possible, or are we likely to see one or more of them moved?

Agreed - sure there are questions on how many innings Horton and Steele can pitch and can Boyd replicate last year - but don't sleep on Wiggins coming up some time next year and contributing. 

[Cubs420psd]

I like the move alot, solid cost controlled starter with a high ceiling and you didn't have to give up Mo Baller or Wiggins.

[chibears55]

Reminds me of last year, dealing the top prospect for a low cost stud in return, at least they get 3 years of Cabrera over just the one for Tucker, but that cost 2 big prospects over one.

Gotta go get a big bat now, otherwise it a big ask for 2 young players in Mo and Shaw to be productive everyday players as the DH and 3Bmen where you'd like to get some big production from.

I do like having Assad and Rea in the pen now, that 2 guys who can give them 3+ innings if needed.

 

[CubinNY]

1 hour ago, ILMindState said:

 

Hernandez might turn out to be the better player. I think they also got another very low level IF. 

[chibears55]

Man, I think im gonna give up on my can't wait to see this kid come up love..lol

Jimenez Torres B.Davis Marquez Mervis Caissie Hernandez

😏😏😏

Edited January 7 by chibears55

[NorthsideAvenger]

1 hour ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

Boyd, Horton, Cabrera, Shota, Taillon, Rea, Wicks, Brown, Assad, and (eventually) Steele and Wiggins is nice depth. Given options, Steele’s injury recovery timing, Wiggins’ readiness, etc., is keeping all of them possible, or are we likely to see one or more of them moved?

Yeah, you got to keep all of them. A season is a battle of attrition and you need every arm you can get. 

[Jason Ross]

15 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Hernandez might turn out to be the better player. I think they also got another very low level IF. 

They did. 18 year old in AZ complex league. Big power. Big whiff. 1b only. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

10 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Man, I think im gonna give up on my can't wait to see this kid come up love..lol

Jimenez Torres B.Davis Marquez Mervis Caissie Hernandez

😏😏😏

Unless the prospect is a can't miss like Bryce Harper, Paul Skenes or  Mike Trout, I would not put any prospect in the "can't wait to see come up" category. 

[Hot Sauce]

Seems like Hernandez has been in the system longer than he probably has. Jed deserves some kudos for this one. We scrutinize him pretty intensely here, sometimes justified but other times unfairly. He did well in this trade.

[imb]

2 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

That...isn't a bad price.

That is so good. Hot damn. What if we get even 2/3rd of a year out of Steele? Or even just a decent second half? Bichette or Bregman and we’re cooking with gas

[Tryptamine]

They land Bichette or Bregman and I've got them penciled in at #2 in the NL, they'd be #3 but between most likely losing Ranger Suarez and Wheeler's career likely being over, I'm not sure the Phillies can realistically do enough.

[BKHoo]

Dodgers, Brewers and Phillies have to be ahead of us in most forecasts. 
 

But I agree - if we get one of Bich or Breg we can certainly compete!! 

[ILMindState]

59 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

Seems like Hernandez has been in the system longer than he probably has. Jed deserves some kudos for this one. We scrutinize him pretty intensely here, sometimes justified but other times unfairly. He did well in this trade.

 

You know Jed did good when the angry mob that bitch about everything have been dead silent. 

Edited January 7 by ILMindState

[jersey cubs fan]

Jed goes out and acquires an impact player and the people who are sick and tired of Jed not acquiring good players are happy. 
 

smart people: not so angy now are we? 

[Tryptamine]

2 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Jed goes out and acquires an impact player and the people who are sick and tired of Jed not acquiring good players are happy. 
 

smart people: not so angy now are we? 

He left himself an extremely narrow path for success, even now he's still only half way there but at least there's far more options now

 

[Derwood]

As per usual, the asking price is lower than the prospect-heads predicted 

[Stratos]

Last deadline we needed a SP and we got broken garbage who fell apart after a dozen pitches.  Previous 2 deadlines we needed relievers but got arse.

Heading into the offseason we needed to upgrade SP. We re-signed a HR machine who was BP down the stretch and in the playoffs, then just traded for another pitcher whose arm is falling off.

This is not a serious organization.  I'm hoping this works out and he stays healthy but if he does it's luck.  We know the Cubs medical staff have no idea WTF they're looking at.

[Tryptamine]

1 minute ago, Stratos said:

Last deadline we needed a SP and we got broken garbage who fell apart after a dozen pitches.  Previous 2 deadlines we needed relievers but got arse.

Heading into the offseason we needed to upgrade SP. We re-signed a HR machine who was BP down the stretch and in the playoffs, then just traded for another pitcher whose arm is falling off.

This is not a serious organization.  I'm hoping this works out and he stays healthy but if he does it's luck.  We know the Cubs medical staff have no idea WTF they're looking at.

I'm legitimately confused on how you aren't happy with this rotation and pen, they're both quite good.

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Last deadline we needed a SP and we got broken garbage who fell apart after a dozen pitches.  Previous 2 deadlines we needed relievers but got arse.

Heading into the offseason we needed to upgrade SP. We re-signed a HR machine who was BP down the stretch and in the playoffs, then just traded for another pitcher whose arm is falling off.

This is not a serious organization.  I'm hoping this works out and he stays healthy but if he does it's luck.  We know the Cubs medical staff have no idea WTF they're looking at.

What is wrong with you? This is a great trade. 

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

I'm legitimately confused on how you aren't happy with this rotation and pen, they're both quite good.

Never said anything about the current pen, but it's solid so far, no complaints.

Cabrera has red flags on his arm health, that's my concern as i stated.  The rotation has to go 7 months deep to win a ring and our top guns already have some durability concerns going into next year.  Steele's return and Wiggins might be what saves the rotation in the 2nd half.

[Bertz]

8 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Never said anything about the current pen, but it's solid so far, no complaints.

Cabrera has red flags on his arm health, that's my concern as i stated.  The rotation has to go 7 months deep to win a ring and our top guns already have some durability concerns going into next year.  Steele's return and Wiggins might be what saves the rotation in the 2nd half.

Your timing is not ideal for making the argument that a rotation that prioritizes talent over durability will have a hard time making it through the playoffs.

[javy knows my name]

8 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Never said anything about the current pen, but it's solid so far, no complaints.

Cabrera has red flags on his arm health, that's my concern as i stated.  The rotation has to go 7 months deep to win a ring and our top guns already have some durability concerns going into next year.  Steele's return and Wiggins might be what saves the rotation in the 2nd half.

TINSTAAHP

[Outshined_One]

Next season, you're guaranteed to see inning/pitch restrictions on Horton, Steele, and Wiggins due to prior injuries. That's also not counting potential wear and tear concerns with Boyd (whose 179.2 IP in 2025 eclipsed his last three seasons of IP combined) and Imanaga (who clearly wore down in the second half of 2025). Taillon also has a history of arm trouble.

The days of the MLB SP who can give you a healthy 150+ IP over the course of multiple seasons in a row are long, long gone.

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

What is wrong with you? This is a great trade. 

If you ignore the red flags, sure.

But hey, I'm the guy last year who said Steele was on Tommy John watch and people here dogged me for that before he went under the knife like a week later.

I couldn't care less about temporary dopamine hits from shiny new toys, I want to the Cubs to be the best team in the MLB.   The best team in the AL just added a horse in Dylan Cease who should easily go deep into Oct and we added Upside McGee held together with duct tape and projected for less WAR than Imanaga.  I do like the upside though.

I am very glad they got a prime age player and not some 37 year old ready to decline-implode.

Anyways, this is more about Tom than Jed.  I think Jed is doing the best that can be expected, I try to never download my Tom-hate on him.

At this point you gotta think signing an OF in FA is strongly on the table. No idea how they replace Happ+Seiya next year.  Extending one or both another 4ish years isn't the ideal but possible, or another trade next winter.  Luckily corner OF/DH are the easiest to replace.  I like Conrad but he might be more a late-2027 or 2028 ETA.

Anyways I'm cranky, have a nice day.

[Cuzi]

4 minutes ago, Stratos said:

If you ignore the red flags, sure.

The best guy we gave up was Owen Caissie with his 40% strikeout rate. Lets not act like he doesn't have red flags.