One start was enough for the Cubs to rethink Edward Cabrera’s role.
Cabrera, who had been expected by some to work out of the bullpen after returning from injury, got the ball Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Instead of easing him back in, Chicago ended up reshuffling its pitching plan almost immediately. Javier Assad was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to clear a roster spot, and David Peterson was bumped to the bullpen to open a place in the rotation.
That setup may not last long.
Cabrera was shelled by the Cardinals, allowing six runs in fewer than four innings. He also issued three walks and surrendered two home runs. Afterward, Cabrera said a blister was part of the problem, though he admitted he did not tell the coaching staff about it until after the outing ended.
The postgame message from Craig Counsell made it sound like another turn in the rotation is far from guaranteed. Asked about Cabrera’s place going forward, Counsell wouldn’t commit to keeping him there. The expectation now is that Cabrera could be sent to the bullpen, with Peterson moving back into the starting mix.
“It didn’t go well,” Counsell told reporters when asked about Cabrera's start. “The lack of swing-and-miss, again, is concerning.
He got some big swing-and-miss in some of his rehab starts. To me, it looks like it’s the separation between the changeup and the fastball right now.
The hitter is not showing you that it’s a lot.”
For the Cubs, Cabrera’s first season with the club has been a letdown. After the look he showed in recent minor-league rehab starts, there was at least some hope he was trending back toward the version of himself the Marlins once had. Sunday didn’t support that idea.
And that’s where the Cubs are now: Cabrera has gone from potential difference-maker to the biggest question mark in the staff. When Chicago acquired him from Miami, the idea was that he might grow into the kind of top-of-the-rotation arm the team has been missing. At the moment, though, he doesn’t look like a pitcher they can trust in a meaningful start.
Peterson, on the other hand, has made a strong case to stay put. Since coming over from the New York Mets, he has given the Cubs exactly what they need: groundballs and reliability. Right now, that matters more than Cabrera’s upside.
The Cubs can sort out Cabrera’s long-term future later. For now, they need dependable innings, and Cabrera is not giving them that.
In Other News...
Kyle Tucker Is Reopening A Cubs Debate Fans Know Too Well
Kyle Tuckers first season in Los Angeles has turned into a reminder of how quickly a marquee acquisition can become a lightning rod, and Cubs fans know the feeling well. He has struggled badly at Dodger Stadium, where his offensive numbers have dipped enough to make every quiet night feel louder, and a recent benching followed by boos after a defensive misplay only added to the scrutiny.
For Cubs followers, the louder discussion is the familiar one about what happens when a big-name player starts to look uncomfortable in a new uniform. Tuckers rough stretch is already drawing comparisons to Kris Bryant, even if Bryants situation came with the far more serious backdrop of a degenerative back condition, and that distinction matters. Still, the reaction around Tucker shows how fast expectations can sour when the production does not match the paycheck or the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Pedro Ramirez Looks Like A Cubs Fit With One Test Left
Pedro Ramirez has spent much of his rookie season looking like the kind of flexible young player the Cubs can build around. At 22, he has already shown he can handle multiple infield spots while giving the team both solid work at the plate and steady defense, the sort of combination that makes a bench piece look a lot more interesting when a roster starts thinking ahead.
The next step is where this gets intriguing for Chicago. With some veteran pieces moving toward free agency, the Cubs are looking at ways to stretch Ramirezs value and see whether he can grow into something bigger than a utility option, and that means a coming test in the outfield corners. His bat and gloves have earned attention; now the question is whether the club can trust him in a new part of the field enough to open a path to a regular role. [Read more 🡒]