Pirates have little reason to be worried about Cubs' Edward Cabrera trade

From a Pittsburgh Pirates fan perspective, the reaction to the Chicago Cubs landing Edward Cabrera should be… a shrug.

Yes, Chicago went out and made a splash. Yes, they pried a flashy arm away from the Miami Marlins. And yes, on paper, Cabrera’s raw stuff pops. But this is exactly the kind of move that sounds scarier than it actually is — especially if you’re the Pirates looking around the NL Central landscape.

Let’s start with the part everyone skips past when the headlines drop: Edward Cabrera has never quite put it all together.

Cabrera is the dictionary definition of upside-over-results. The velocity is loud. The movement is nasty. The scouting reports have been glowing for years. And yet, season after season, the same problems keep showing up. Injuries. Short outings. Command that comes and goes. Long stretches where he looks unhittable… followed by weeks where he can’t get through five innings.

Durability isn’t a footnote for starting pitchers — it’s the job requirement. Cabrera has struggled to stay on the mound consistently, and even when healthy, the Cubs aren’t getting a proven workhorse. They’re getting a project with a high ceiling and a very real floor.

And then there’s the performance context Cubs fans probably don’t want to dig into too deeply. Cabrera has routinely had issues against good offenses. When lineups are patient, disciplined, and willing to grind at-bats, his command issues get exposed. Walks pile up. Pitch counts spike. He’s out of the game early, and suddenly you’re leaning on the bullpen in the fourth or fifth inning.

That’s not just a theoretical concern — it’s been a recurring theme.

Pirates shouldn't feel threatened by Cubs' trade for Edward Cabrera

The NL Central isn’t exactly a murderer’s row, but it’s also not 2019 anymore. The Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers (and now, even the Pirates) all run lineups that can punish mistakes and force pitchers to throw strikes. If Cabrera can’t consistently locate, he’s not some unstoppable ace just because he wears blue pinstripes now.

The cost of the trade should raise eyebrows, too. The Cubs gave up Owen Caissie, a legitimate top outfield prospect, plus additional bats, for a pitcher whose résumé is still mostly “what if.” That’s a real gamble.

And this isn’t a rotation that suddenly became untouchable overnight. Yes, Chicago can line up Cabrera behind veterans like Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon, and alongside Shota Imanaga. But that’s still a group with question marks, innings concerns, and limited margin for error if Cabrera doesn’t take a major step forward.

From Pittsburgh’s point of view, this is not a move that should inspire panic. It’s not the Cubs landing a proven ace with a decade-long track record of dominance. It’s them betting that this will finally be the year Cabrera stays healthy, throws enough strikes, and translates stuff into sustained success.

Could it work? Sure. But until it does — until Cabrera proves he can handle a full season, neutralize strong lineups, and be more than a highlight reel arm — this is just another reminder that not every “win-now” trade actually moves the needle.

The Pirates shouldn’t lose sleep over potential. They should worry about results. And Cabrera, so far, is still much more about the former than the latter.