Marlins shut down one Cubs trade path while teasing another big Winter Meetings move

It would seem probable that the Miami Marlins are one team the Chicago Cubs are destined to have trade discussions with at the Winter Meetings. Dating back to last offseason, when the Cubs nearly sent Owen Caissie to Miami in exchange for Jesús Luzardo, there's been a sense of inevitability that the two sides would come to an agreement on a deal.

As recently as the trade deadline in July, the Cubs had levels of interest in Miami Marlins' starting pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. The Marlins had a high asking price for each pitcher, leading the Cubs to fall short of adding a top-of-the-rotation arm.

With Jed Hoyer and Co. looking to finally address that need this offseason, there's been a belief that they could rekindle talks with Miami. If they do, the Cubs may be forced to zero in on Cabrera. USA Today's Bob Nightengale, who has already had an eventful week reporting on potential Cubs' moves, reports that the Marlins are telling teams that they plan on keeping Alcantara while shopping Cabrera at the Winter Meetings.

Marlins reveal to the Chicago Cubs which starting pitcher could be available in trade talks this offseason.

It makes sense, considering many teams may view Alcantara as a buy-low trade candidate this winter. In what was his first season back from Tommy John surgery, Alcantara struggled for most of the campaign, often being referred to as one of the worst starting pitchers in the National League. He seemed to turn a corner back toward being a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher as the season closed, but the Marlins could hope for a hot start to the 2026 season, and then shop him at the deadline.

Meanwhile, Cabrera is under control through the 2028 season and would deplete the Cubs' farm system if they were to make a trade for him. Of course, the Cubs would then have a top-of-the-rotation pitcher who is just now entering arbitration, and would allow Chicago to use their available financial resources this offseason on a different area of their roster.

With the interest they have in Alex Bregman, that could be a much-needed benefit and opens the flexibility for the 2026 roster even more.