Cubs just got the Edward Cabrera trade benefit they were counting on

What made Edward Cabrera such a compelling trade target for the Chicago Cubs was that he was under team control for three years and entering his first season of arbitration. With the need the Cubs have for an impact bat, the hope this offseason was that they would be able to trade for Cabrera and then use the money saved on a free-agent bat like Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, and Cody Bellinger.

The Cubs accomplished the first part of that plan on Wednesday, sending Owen Caissie as part of a three-prospect package to the Marlins in exchange for Cabrera.

Ironically, the trade didn't leave the Cubs with much room to negotiate a settlement with Cabrera, considering the deadline for teams to exchange figures with arbitration-eligible players was today. More times than not, this does lead to a deal being completed, but there can be instances where arbitration is needed.

Credit to the Cubs for getting a deal done with their new starting pitcher. The final number does come in slightly higher than the $3.7M that was projected, but not the extent that it should alter any plans the team created after completing the trade with the Marlins.

Cubs now know what Edward Cabrera will cost them in 2026

It can be a tricky process for a team to avoid arbitration with a player they acquired that same offseason. The Cubs and Kyle Tucker were unable to reach a deal last offseason when it was time for each side to exchange figures, but they were able to work out a deal soon after.

The Cubs remain in a position to add one of Bichette, Bregman, or Bellinger before the end of the offseason. It could be a game of musical chairs that points the Cubs into the direction of the former Toronto Blue Jays' shortstop.

There remains an expectation that Bregman will return to the Boston Red Sox, and Bellinger's most interested suitors appear to be the New York Mets or New York Yankees. That leaves Kyle Tucker for the Toronto Blue Jays, clearing the way for the Cubs to be one of the logical suitors for Bichette.