CHICAGO -- The Cubs addressed their rotation in a big way on Wednesday with the acquisition of hard-throwing righty Edward Cabrera from the Marlins. On Thursday, there was some paperwork in need of attention for Chicago’s starting group.
Beyond Cabrera, left-hander Justin Steele and righty Javier Assad were on the remaining list of players eligible for arbitration for the North Siders. Thursday marked the deadline for exchanging proposed salary figures with arbitration candidates -- a day that annually spurs activity around baseball.
The Cubs avoided arbitration with all three pitchers on Thursday night, multiple sources told MLB.com. Steele ($6.775 million) and Cabrera ($4.45 million) each received a one-year deal, while Assad reached a one-year contract ($1.8 million) that includes a team option for ‘27.
The three agreements, which were not confirmed by the team, continued the Cubs’ strong track record of avoiding arbitration hearings with their players.
Since 1993, the Cubs have only reached a hearing three times (Ian Happ in 2021, Justin Grimm in ‘18 and Ryan Theriot in ‘10). In the history of the arbitration process, the ballclub has only had eight hearings, including Mark Grace (1993), Shawon Dunston (‘90), Andre Dawson (‘88), Leon Durham (‘85), and Bruce Sutter (‘80).
One of the reasons Cabrera was an attractive trade target for the Cubs was that the righty comes with three more seasons of contractual control after earning $1.95 million as a first-time arbitration candidate in ‘25. Chicago shipped top prospect Owen Caissie, plus prospects Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon, to Miami in order to have a high-ceiling arm at a more affordable rate than acquiring one via free agency.
Cabrera -- who will turn 28 on April 13 -- enjoyed a breakout showing in ‘25, when he spun a 3.53 ERA in a career-high 26 starts for the Marlins. He struck out 150 and walked 48 in 137 2/3 innings, posting a 125 ERA+ on the campaign after turning in a 102 ERA+ across the ‘21-24 seasons.
Cabrera does come with some injury risk, as he has dealt with finger blisters and elbow issues in his career. That includes last year, when he was sidelined with posterior right elbow discomfort in July and later placed on the injured list due to a right elbow sprain in late August. That said, Cabrera’s talent is undeniable (evidenced by the 2.22 ERA he logged in a 16-start stretch from May to August).
The 30-year-old Steele earned a slight raise over his ‘25 salary ($6.55 million) after being limited to only four starts last year. He was one of the game’s elite lefties for a two-year stretch -- making an All-Star team and finishing fifth in National League Cy Young voting in ‘23, and serving as the Cubs’ Opening Day starter in ‘24.
Steele has a 3.30 ERA across 102 Major League appearances, including a 3.07 ERA in ‘23-24 combined (eighth-lowest in MLB among pitchers with at least 200 innings). He underwent surgery on his left elbow in April, but has resumed a throwing program this offseason. Barring any setbacks, Steele could be in line to rejoin the rotation in the first half.
Without Steele in the mix, Chicago’s rotation projects to include veterans Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon, lefty Shota Imanaga, 2025 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up Cade Horton and Cabrera. Behind them, the primary depth pieces consist of Assad, Ben Brown, Colin Rea and Jordan Wicks.
Assad, 28, is eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason, having pitched in parts of the past four seasons for Chicago. The right-hander has a 3.43 ERA in that span over 78 appearances (54 starts). Last season, Assad pitched in only eight games due to left oblique issues, but he turned in a 3.65 ERA when active for the Cubs.