{"id":131023,"date":"2025-12-15T15:34:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T15:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=131023"},"modified":"2025-12-15T15:34:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T15:34:39","slug":"cubs-linked-to-strikeout-ace-to-pair-with-shota-imanaga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=131023","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Linked to Strikeout Ace to Pair With Shota Imanaga"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

IMAGE: Imagn Images<\/div>\n

The Cubs made a smart move locking down Shota Imanaga, but let\u2019s be honest-they\u2019re not done yet. Even with Imanaga headlining the rotation and Justin Steele on the mend, Chicago still has a glaring need for more depth on the mound. And there’s a potential fix that makes a lot of sense: Edward Cabrera.<\/p>\n

Cabrera, the 25-year-old right-hander from the Marlins, is a name that keeps surfacing in trade chatter-and for good reason. He\u2019s under team control through 2028, comes with a budget-friendly arbitration trajectory, and has the kind of pitch profile that could thrive at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n

Cabrera leans heavily on a sinkerball and off-speed mix, which plays directly into the Cubs\u2019 defensive strengths. With a glove-first infield behind him, Cabrera\u2019s groundball-heavy approach could turn into outs at a much higher clip.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk numbers. Cabrera wrapped up last season with an 8-7 record, a 3.53 ERA, 150 strikeouts, and a 1.228 WHIP over 137 innings.<\/p>\n

Those are solid figures, especially considering the Marlins\u2019 inconsistent defense and lack of run support. Drop him into a Cubs uniform, where the defense is one of the best in the league, and there\u2019s every reason to believe those numbers could take a step forward.<\/p>\n

The Cubs have been building a roster that\u2019s quietly becoming one of the most balanced in the National League. They\u2019ve got gloves, they\u2019ve got bats, and they\u2019ve now got an ace in Imanaga.<\/p>\n

But to make a serious run, especially in a division that\u2019s always tight, they need to shore up the rotation. Cabrera could be that missing piece-a controllable, high-upside arm who fits both the present and future of this team.<\/p>\n

If the Marlins are indeed looking to add offense, the Cubs have the prospect depth and positional flexibility to make something happen. It\u2019s the kind of trade that checks boxes for both sides: Miami gets the bats they need, and Chicago bolsters its rotation with a pitcher who could flourish in their system.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: Cabrera isn\u2019t just a name on the trade block-he\u2019s a potential difference-maker. And for a Cubs team looking to level up in 2025, this could be the kind of under-the-radar move that pays off in a big way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cubs made a smart move locking down Shota Imanaga, but let\u2019s be honest-they\u2019re not done yet. Even with Imanaga headlining the rotation and Justin Steele on the mend, Chicago…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":131024,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nCubs Linked to Strikeout Ace to Pair With Shota Imanaga - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=131023\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cubs Linked to Strikeout Ace to Pair With Shota Imanaga - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Cubs made a smart move locking down Shota Imanaga, but let\u2019s be honest-they\u2019re not done yet. 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