A trade that hasn't paid

Cabrera has either been hurt or hit hard since arriving from Miami. The Cubs gave up prospect Owen Caissie in the offseason deal and have gotten almost nothing back.

“When pitcher Edward Cabrera hasn't been hurt, he's been ineffective”

Off the IL, into relief

The Cubs activated Cabrera on Saturday, but not to start. He goes straight to a bullpen that has been the team's weakest link heading into the final weeks.

The numbers forcing the move

Cabrera has a 5.68 ERA across 76 innings this season. That is not a line a contending team hands the ball to every fifth day in October.

The Sasaki blueprint

Roki Sasaki came to the Dodgers in 2025 with electric stuff and struggled in his first North American season. He got hurt, and returned in September as a reliever.

Relief salvaged his season

The switch turned Sasaki from a disappointment into a weapon, and Los Angeles rode him to a World Series title.

“That move salvaged Sasaki's season and helped Los Angeles win the World Series.”

Nine games, 0.84 ERA

Sasaki pitched in nine playoff games and gave up one earned run in 10 2/3 innings. He became the extra live arm that carried the Dodgers through October.

The pitch they made him

When the Cubs decided on the bullpen move, they told Cabrera the Sasaki story. Craig Counsell said the comparison landed with the righthander.

A roadmap, not a demotion

Counsell framed the change as an opening rather than a punishment, and pointed to how well the same idea worked in Los Angeles a year ago.

“That could happen. That's an example, that's a roadmap to how this can be really successful.”

It started with a blister

Cabrera landed on the injured list with a blister on his right middle finger, the latest interruption in a season that never got going.

The rehab line was ugly

During his stint with Triple-A Iowa, Cabrera made three relief appearances and allowed six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Rhythm is the real test

Cabrera is a career starter with two bullpen appearances to his name. He has to trade a known start day for the possibility of pitching at any moment.

He is buying in

Cabrera, speaking through a translator, treated the move as a chance rather than a setback. The Cubs plan to ease him into the role.

“I see this as another opportunity, another opportunity to be here, another opportunity to help the team out.”

Tied for the top spot

Chicago started Saturday level with the Phillies for the first NL wild card, and with it the right to host the opening best-of-three series.

Kershaw in the ninth

Counsell reached for another precedent: Clayton Kershaw closing out Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS with a scoreless ninth as the Dodgers beat the Brewers 5-1.

Discomfort is the price

Counsell says Cabrera is only the first. Other Cubs will be asked to take unfamiliar jobs, and a few good relief outings could rewrite how Cabrera's 2026 is remembered.

“You have to do things you're not used to doing if you want to do great things. It's going to call for that.”