Cubs being criticized for the trade they didn’t make amid brutal swoon

The Chicago Cubs knew they had to address their pitching staff during the offseason, so they went out and swung a trade for Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera, a player they had been seeking since last year’s trade deadline.

Cabrera got off to a strong start with the Cubs but has since faltered, surrendering three or more runs in seven straight starts before exiting his last outing due to a blister. He is now on the 15-day injured list as a result. The 28-year-old owns a 4.00 ERA on the campaign, and his strikeout rate has plummeted.

It’s still early, so there is plenty of time for Cabrera to turn things around. He is also under affordable club control through 2028.

But is it possible Chicago traded for the wrong Marlins pitcher?

Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Cribs thinks so it’s a possibility, questioning whether they should have acquired Ryan Weathers instead.

Did the Chicago Cubs get the wrong pitcher in Edward Cabrera?

To be fair to the Cubs, Cabrera was the far more highly-touted pitcher of the two. Weathers — who was traded to the New York Yankees back in January — had only made 24 starts over the last two years for Miami due to injuries, and while he was decent when he was on the mound, Cabrera appeared to be the superior talent.

But based on what we’ve seen thus far in 2026, Campbell wonders if that’s the case.

“At the time, some Yankees fans questioned why New York was more eager to get Weathers than they were Cabrera, and it would appear that we’re finding out why in real time. The hope is that Cabrera eventually returns to the ascent he was once on, but as Weathers finds success with the Yankees, Hoyer’s biggest trade from last offseason may not look all that great in comparison,” Campbell wrote.

Weathers has pitched to the tune of a 3.14 ERA while registering 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings over his first 10 starts of the year. He was never much of a swing-and-miss guy before, so he has absolutely come into his own in the early stages of 2026.

The Yankees also paid a much cheaper price to acquire Weathers. They did send four prospects back the Marlins’ way, but none were neither as valuable as Owen Caissie, whom Chicago gave up in return for Cabrera.

It’s still too early to judge, but it’s entirely possible the Cubs made a mistake here.

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