In a significant move that has stirred the baseball world, the Miami Marlins have finally made a trade involving Edward Cabrera. After months of speculation and anticipation, they sent the talented right-handed pitcher to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for a promising trio of prospects, with Owen Caissie being the standout name in this deal. Caissie is poised to make an immediate impact in Miami's outfield as soon as this season, effectively enhancing the Marlins' batting lineup. However, this strategic trade may come at a cost, particularly concerning their pitching rotation. Fortunately, the Marlins are among the few teams equipped with sufficient depth in their starting pitching staff to absorb the loss of Cabrera.
The current rotation is tentatively set to include Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Ryan Weathers, Max Meyer, and Braxton Garrett. Janson Junk is expected to be the primary backup option, while Adam Mazur and Ryan Gusto bring some major league experience to the table. Additionally, Dax Fulton appears ready to make his debut in the big leagues, and top prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling might also see their first game in the majors before the conclusion of the 2026 season.
However, given the injury histories associated with this group and their overall lack of extensive proven success, one could argue that the Marlins might want to consider bolstering their starting pitcher lineup. Kevin Barral from Fish On First reports that there are discussions about the possibility of acquiring a veteran pitcher who can eat innings and provide added stability to the rotation. Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon from The Athletic mention that the Marlins remain open to trading from their pitching roster if the right offer comes along.
It's important to note that the latter report does not suggest that such trades are likely to happen soon; it may simply reflect the general openness of the Marlins' president of baseball operations, Peter Bendix, to explore all available options. They emphasize that it is still deemed "unlikely" that Alcantara will be traded, aligning with numerous reports throughout the offseason indicating the Marlins’ reluctance to part ways with the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner.
Trading a younger pitcher for another MLB-ready hitter could seem more feasible if a compelling offer arises. Additionally, if the Marlins were to bring in a seasoned veteran, they would likely need to create some space in their rotation. The rumored veteran acquisition wouldn’t carry a hefty price tag; Barral draws a comparison to last winter’s signing of Cal Quantrill, who accepted a one-year, $3.5 million contract but struggled significantly, finishing with a 5.50 ERA over 109.2 innings before being waived and subsequently claimed by the Braves.
As expected, Bendix was not forthcoming with details regarding potential additions or subtractions to the pitching staff when he spoke with reporters earlier this week, including Christina De Nicola and Jessica Camerato from MLB.com. While he acknowledged the mantra that "you can never have too much pitching," he expressed confidence in the internal candidates available for a competitive rotation battle during Spring Training. He even mentioned that players like White or Snelling could emerge as contenders for a place on the opening day roster.
"I certainly don’t have a clear picture of who our starting five will be at the start of the season," Bendix stated. "There is considerable opportunity, competition, and open spots available, which gives many players the chance to step up and secure a position. Nothing is off the table at this stage."
