Barring a surprise obstacle, the Chicago Cubs will be the ones who end up with Edward Cabrera. The Miami Marlins pitcher has been one of the buzzier trade targets for several teams, including the New York Mets.
He’ll be a much better match for the Cubs than he ever would have been for the Mets. Cabrera can be a strong number three starter while the Mets are in need of a guy who can dig his heels in at the top of the rotation. That’s just now who he is.
There’s no crying over a lost opportunity here. However, there are three reasons that this trade isn’t completely scar free.
The Cubs trading for Edward Cabrera wasn't the best end result for the Mets
1) It would’ve been better if Edward Cabrera was traded to a Freddy Peralta suitor
Freddy Peralta was never getting traded to the Cubs for obvious reasons. The NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers weren’t about to hand over their ace to the Cubs in a year where both teams plan to compete. Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees who could’ve been a match for Cabrera or Peralta now have one fewer option to choose between. It’s also the better option for the Mets. The price just went up.
2) The Cubs get better and that’s not so great for the Mets in a Wild Card chase
In theory, this trade should make the Marlins worse in 2026 and the Cubs better. In the long haul, things should even out, but let’s ignore that for now. We know it doesn’t matter if the Marlins 100 games or 50 games; they’re going to be a pain for the Mets. Cabrera landing with a more clear cut division winner or better yet an American League team would have been preferred. Instead, it’s a team that could always scratch out just a handful more wins than the Mets in the regular season and send the Amazins golfing after 162.
3) Sandy Alcantara seems less likely to get moved
Sandy Alcantara was always a better match for the Mets rotation. Even if the control is far fewer years, he has shown to be a top of the rotation arm at times. The Marlins aren’t in complete sell mode and if someone were to blow them away with an offer for Alcantara, they might need to take it. The Mets have plenty of options out there to trade for. However, this deal seems to have eliminated two of them.
