Cubs might've saved Yankees from themselves by making risky trade with Marlins

Don't worry, Yankees fans! Another rumored trade New York was involved in has turned to dust, but this time it might have actually helped them. The Chicago Cubs are making a deal with the Miami Marlins to land starting pitcher Edward Cabrera.

The Yankees were seemingly in advanced talks with Miami over the weekend involving Cabrera ... until Jack Curry told everybody on YES Network's Monday episode of Yankees Hot Stove that a deal wasn't close. Believe him now? Jon Heyman all but confirmed the same in the wake of the Cubs report.

Though Brian Cashman has made plenty of trades with the Fish ever since the blockbuster Giancarlo Stanton deal, plenty of other talks and negotiations have completely fallen apart. Gleyber Torres for Pablo López back in 2022. Jasson Domínguez for Sandy Alcantara this past trade deadline. Not to mention, importing players from a downtrodden franchise isn't exactly a winning recipe when it comes to the scenery change in the Bronx.

Cubs nearing deal with Edward Cabrera, blocking Yankees trade that was "never close"

Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Stanton might be exceptions to the rule, but those were at least All-Star-caliber players. The Yankees need to stop with the "high-upside" plays when they make deals with smaller market teams, especially when they need to capitalize on a rapidly closing championship window.

Cabrera is undoubtedly a talented starter, but he's more potential than anything. He's consistently dealt with injuries since debuting in 2021; he's made more than 20 starts in a single season just once; he's never eclipsed 138 innings pitched; and he's bad against the top offenses in the game.

As a fifth starter in a stacked rotation? Sure, you could convince us that's a shrewd move. But the Marlins weren't taking a discount here — not with Cabrera possessing three years of team control and coming off his best season.

His off-speed stuff grades out as well above-average, but his fastball isn't great and he has a walks problem. Not to mention, he dealt with an elbow injury in 2025 and may not be out of the woods there just yet.

It's unclear what the Cubs surrendered for the right-hander, but whatever it was, the Yankees can use those same assets to acquire a right-handed bat and a couple of relievers — two areas of the roster that are more urgent to address than the back end of the starting rotation.

Nobody would've been upset if the Yankees acquired Cabrera, but there might've been a feeling that New York's trade assets were misallocated. And it would've been another difficult transaction to swallow if he couldn't stay healthy or didn't perform to expectations.

For now, we'll call this a passive victory for Cashman and the front office, and we can only hope they're shifting their attention elsewhere to make good use of their resources.