NEW YORK — After weeks of watching from the sidelines, Brian Cashman finally made his move.
The New York Yankees are in active trade discussions with the Miami Marlins for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. Ken Rosenthal and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic first reported the news on Sunday.
No deal is close yet. But the talks signal a shift in strategy for a front office that has remained surprisingly quiet this winter.
The Yankees have not added a single player to their 40-man roster from outside the organization. They have watched other contenders load up while managing a frustratingly slow pursuit of free agent Cody Bellinger.
Now the pressure is mounting. Spring training begins in six weeks.
Why the Yankees need pitching help
The Yankees will open the 2026 season with three starting pitchers on the injured list.
Gerrit Cole remains on track to return in May or June after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March. Carlos Rodon had elbow surgery in October to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur. He is expected back in late April or early May.
Clarke Schmidt also had Tommy John surgery in July. He might not pitch until the second half of the season.
That leaves Max Fried as the only proven frontline starter available on Opening Day. Behind him sit promising young arms Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil and Will Warren. All three showed flashes last season. None has a track record of sustained success.
Cashman acknowledged the need for reinforcements at the Winter Meetings last month.
“I would love to add another starter,” the general manager said at the time.
What Cabrera would bring to the Bronx
Cabrera is coming off the best season of his career. The 27-year-old right-hander posted a 3.53 ERA with 150 strikeouts over 137.2 innings across 26 starts for Miami in 2025.
He won a career-high eight games. His 1.23 WHIP marked a significant improvement from previous seasons.
The 6-foot-5 flamethrower averaged 97 mph on his fastball last season. He pairs it with a devastating changeup and breaking ball that generated whiffs at elite rates.
Most importantly for a cost-conscious Yankees ownership group, Cabrera is cheap. He is projected to earn just $3.7 million in arbitration this year, according to MLB Trade Rumors. He remains under team control through 2028.
Over five big-league seasons, Cabrera has gone 25-29 with a 4.07 ERA and 478 strikeouts in 431.2 innings.
Injuries have been a concern. He missed time last season with a finger blister and an elbow sprain. But when healthy, he has shown the ability to dominate. He struck out 10 batters in a game twice in 2025 and posted a 2.53 ERA during one four-start stretch in May.
The price tag could be steep
The Marlins are listening. Their deep pitching staff gives them flexibility to move an arm without gutting the rotation.
But Miami will not give Cabrera away.
The recent trade market has set the bar high. The Baltimore Orioles surrendered four prospects, including multiple top-30 talents, plus a competitive balance pick to acquire Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays. Baz has less experience and more injury history than Cabrera.
According to reports from Barstool Sports, the Yankees package could include outfield prospect Dillon Lewis and right-hander Ben Hess. Both rank among the organization’s top prospects.
The Marlins have also shown interest in Spencer Jones, the Yankees’ towering outfield prospect who is mashing at Triple-A. Moving Jones would hurt. But it might be necessary to get a deal done.
Yankees face stiff competition
The Yankees are not alone in their pursuit.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets have also expressed interest in Cabrera.
“Yankees are talking to Marlins about Edward Cabrera, a terrifically talented pitcher coming off excellent year,” Heyman wrote on social media. “Cubs and Giants (and others) also believed interested. Marlins pitching depth allows them to consider.”
The Mets desperately need starting pitching. They have been connected to multiple options this winter, including free agent Framber Valdez. Adding Cabrera would give them a cost-controlled arm to slot behind their veteran staff.
The Cubs lost Justin Steele to injury and need to replace innings. They have prospects to offer and an urgent need to fill.
The Giants continue to search for young arms to build around.
Cashman also eyeing Brewers ace
Cabrera is not the only pitcher on the Yankees’ radar.
The Athletic reported that New York remains in contact with the Milwaukee Brewers about right-hander Freddy Peralta. Those talks began at the Winter Meetings and have continued into the new year.
Peralta would cost more in prospects but offers a longer track record of success. He has made 100 starts over the past four seasons and posted ERAs below 4.00 in each.
The Yankees could pursue both pitchers. Or they could use interest in one as leverage in negotiations for the other.
What a deal would mean for the Bellinger pursuit
A Cabrera trade would likely signal that a Bellinger reunion is close.
The Yankees have made re-signing their switch-hitting outfielder their top priority. But the process has dragged on for months with no resolution.
Adding Cabrera’s modest salary would give the front office clarity on their payroll situation. It would allow them to finalize numbers on a Bellinger offer knowing exactly what the rotation costs.
A rotation featuring Cole, Fried, Cabrera, Rodon and Schlittler would be among the best in baseball once everyone gets healthy. Add a full season of Bellinger in the lineup and the Yankees would look like legitimate World Series contenders again.
For now, the talks continue. The clock is ticking. And Cashman finally appears ready to deal.
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