Edward Cabrera Gets Higher Salary than Expected from Cubs

The Chicago Cubs avoided arbitration with all three players that were eligible, including newly acquired starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. It was a quick turnaround as the Cubs completed the four-player trade with the Miami Marlins on Wednesday and then had Thursday’s deadline to come to an agreement on a 2026 salary with Cabrera, who is in the second year of being arb-eligible.

Along with Justin Steele and Javier Assad, Cabrera will not need a hearing as the Cubs secured all three pitchers to their deals for the upcoming season. Steele’s contract was first reported on Thursday as the left-hander and the Cubs settled on a $6.775 million salary for the rehabbing starter. Steele remains under team control through 2027.

Meanwhile, Assad has agreed to a $1.8 million salary for the 2026 season. Assad, who missed most of last year because of an oblique strain, has two years left of arbitration eligibility with the Cubs.

As for Cabrera, MLB Trade Rumors projected the right-handed pitcher to earn about $3.7 million in 2026, however, he’ll actually end up getting a decent chunk more. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported on Thursday night that Cabrera and the Cubs agreed to a $4.45 million salary, which is slightly above 20% of the expected figure from MLBTR.

The Cubs avoided arbitration with newly acquired pitcher Edward Cabrera, settling on a salary of $4.45 million, per a source.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 9, 2026

Cabrera made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2021, and has pitched in each of the last five seasons in the majors, but he’s only accrued 3.147 years of service time, which is why he is still under team control for another two years following this season.

Cabrera is coming off the best year of his career, surpassing 100 innings for the first time, while starting a career high 22 starts with the Marlins. He ended the 2025 season with a 3.53 ERA in 137.2 innings and from May 4 through the end of the year Cabrera turned in a 2.95 ERA in 119 innings.

Starting pitchers with two pitch types with at least a 40% whiff rate each, 2025 (min 150 swings):

Edward Cabrera: curve 45.2%, slider 43.7%

That’s it.

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) January 7, 2026

The Cubs are taking on the risk of Cabrera potentially missing time with injury and hoping to reap the rewards from the pitcher’s high ceiling and tremendous upside. No question that Cabrera is talented, but there are some things the Cubs’ pitching staff can work on with him to take the former top-100 prospect to a higher level in Chicago.