Jesús Luzardo contract extension could haunt Cubs if not for Edward Cabrera

The Chicago Cubs nearly acquired Jesús Luzardo prior to the 2025 season in a trade that supposedly would have sent Owen Caissie to the Miami Marlins. However, Jed Hoyer and company got cold feet while reviewing the southpaw's medicals, and the Fish had no choice but to deal their talented starter to a division rival.

Now, Luzardo is receiving a lucrative five-year extension worth $135 million after debuting in Philadelphia to the tune of a 3.92 ERA (2.90 FIP) over 183 2/3 innings.

So, how did the Cubs decide to get over their failed trade for one injury-plagued Marlins starter? They opted to acquire another one, of course. And, much like their proposed Luzardo trade, the North Siders made Caissie the center piece in the return going back to Miami.

Of course, now that the Phillies have turned their prized trade acquisition into a nine-figure ace, it's on the Cubs to do the same.

Edward Cabrera's expectations with Cubs have ramped up now that Jesús Luzardo is thriving with Phillies

While Luzardo and Cabrera are far from the same pitcher, they do share some similarities other than their former team. Like his left-handed counterpart, Cabrera isn't known for his durability; prior to 2025, he had never completed 100 innings in any season, nor had he made more than 20 starts. He has not been a reliable pitcher to this point in his career, and there's a non-zero chance the Cubs won't be able to fully cash in on his talents while he spends onerous amounts of time on the injured list.

However, the right-hander is a year younger than Luzardo, and he comes with one more year of team control (three) than Luzardo did at the time he was traded. Those facts at least buy Chicago a little time in their development and evaluation of their new rotation weapon.

And, to be clear, Cabrera has nine-figure potential in his arm if he can stay healthy. He recorded a 3.53 ERA (3.83 FIP) during his breakout campaign last year while striking out more than a quarter of the hitters he faced. He also generated well-above-average chase, whiff, and ground-ball rates, and there's little doubting an arsenal that features a high-90s fastball and multiple plus breaking and off-speed pitches.

Alongside sophomore sensation Cade Horton, he arms the Cubs with two high-upside, strikeout-focused pitchers — the exact kind of arm they've been desperately searching for since Yu Darvish was traded more than five years ago.

Still, Cabrera will inextricably be tied to Luzardo in the minds of fans for years to come. To avoid disappointment, the 27-year-old will need to maintain his electric results over the course of a full season... if he can handle the stress of such a workload.