It sounds like the Chicago Cubs are very active in the trade market.

Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that the Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and San Diego Padres are three teams to watch in trade talks. Rogers then went on to write that all three teams “could make a deal soon.”

The Cubs are likely looking at potentially adding a frontline starter. The front office was interested in adding a top-of-the-line rotation arm at last year’s Trade Deadline, but the prices for those top starters were too high.

Well, the Cubs could pick up those trade talks once again this offseason. Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore and Miami Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera are the two bigger names that appear to be available this winter.

Of those two pitchers, Cabrera might be a better target for the Cubs.

The 27-year-old is coming off a career year with the Marlins in which he finished with a 3.53 ERA and 150 strikeouts across 137 ⅔ innings pitched. Although this is the first time that Cabrera has pitched over 100 innings in a season in the Majors, he’s a pitcher who projects to be a top arm for years to come.

Cabrera’s metrics also back up his breakout 2025 campaign. His chase rate (30.3%), whiff rate (29.4%), and strikeout rate (25.8%) all ranked in the top half of the league last year. That strikeout upside is exactly what the Cubs’ rotation needs.

Last year, the Cubs ranked 24th in starting pitcher strikeouts with 716. Those 716 strikeouts from the rotation were fewer than teams like the Marlins (718), Baltimore Orioles (721), and Arizona Diamondbacks (781).

So, the Cubs need a pitcher who has the potential to strike out batters at a high level. Cabrera also showed consistency down the stretch this past season — unlike Gore.

The right-hander had a 3.18 ERA and 92 strikeouts in his final 15 starts of the year. His best outing during this span came in a start against the Atlanta Braves on August 25. In that game, Cabrera tossed seven shutout innings with 10 strikeouts.

Now, it’s not going to be easy to trade for the Marlins pitcher. He has three more years left of control, and the Baltimore Orioles appear to be the team most advanced in trade talks for Cabrera (according to reports).

However, Cabrera could really boost this Cubs’ rotation. He would fit in perfectly alongside Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon.