ORLANDO, Fla. — The Miami Marlins, progressing in their efforts to trade right-hander Edward Cabrera, are talking with the Baltimore Orioles among other clubs, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Cabrera, 27, is under club control for three more seasons and projected to earn $3.7 million in arbitration in 2026. Other clubs say the Marlins’ asking price is high, to the point where some teams believe he will not be traded.
The Orioles, however, are trying to add a third high-end starter to complement left-hander Trevor Rogers and righty Kyle Bradish. They acquired Rogers from the Marlins at the 2024 trade deadline for outfielder Kyle Stowers and infielder Connor Norby in a deal that worked out well for both teams. Rogers had a 1.81 ERA in 109 2/3 innings last season, and Stowers was an All-Star.
A trade for Cabrera would add to an offseason in which the Orioles already have bolstered their bullpen by adding closer Ryan Helsley and set-up man Andrew Kittredge. After making a five-year, $150 million offer to designated hitter Kyle Schwarber — the same terms Schwarber received Tuesday in his agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies — the Orioles might prefer their big free-agent investment to be in a hitter such as Kyle Tucker or Pete Alonso rather than a starting pitcher.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ signing of right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract with deferrals left Japanese righty Tatsuya Imai and lefties Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez as the top starting pitchers on the market. A number of clubs, including the New York Mets, are reluctant to go long-term on those pitchers.
Cabrera had a 3.53 ERA in 137 2/3 innings last season but made two appearances on the injured list, first at the start of the season with a right middle finger blister, then in September with a sprained right elbow. He also was on the injured list twice in the first half of 2024 with a right shoulder impingement.
His talent, however, is considerable, and at times last season he displayed flashes of brilliance. His average fastball velocity of 96.9 mph ranked in the top 13 percent of the league. His strikeout percentage was in the top 26 percent. However, he also had a high hard-hit rate, and his expected ERA was nearly a half-run per nine innings higher than his actual figure.
The Marlins have been open to trading any of their starting pitchers except righty Eury Pérez. A trade of Cabrera likely would ensure that the team opens the season with former NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcántara in its rotation. Alcántara, set to earn $17.3 million in 2026 with a $21 million club option for ’27, is the Marlins’ highest-paid player.
— Britt Ghiroli contributed to this report.