Cubs Trade is high risk, But at least it's something.

 The Cubs today traded for a front line starter. It was not the front-liner I was hoping for (Skubal); however, I am at least pleased that they are doing something this winter. Edward Cabrera from the Marlins is an elite pitcher with a very bright future barring injury.  The price was heavy.  Owen Cassie may likely become a 35 home run guy in the big leagues and Christian Hernandez provided the Cubs organization with back up middle infield options against injury.  

Cabrera is only 27 years old and brings the Cubs a type of pitcher similar to Horton. He ranked in the 87th percentile among major leaguers in velocity 96.9 MPH. That number even includes relief pitchers which tend to all throw near 100MPH.  His strike-out percentage, chase rate, whiff rate, and ground ball percentage all rank in the top 75 percentile.  The negative to Cabrera has been injury.  Shoulder and elbow strain have put him on the DL a few times.  

Cassie is the big prize for the Marlins.  At 23 years of age, he has one of the highest exit velocities off the bat in all of baseball.  He is big and strong and some scouts compare him to Nick "the Big Amish" Kurtz of the Athletics.  If he becomes another Kurtz, it would mean the Cubs lost this trade. If his swing and miss rate continues to suffer as it has, he may be more Adam Dunn.  That's not a cut down, Adam Dunn was a very productive major league outfielder, but not elite.  

My personal opinion is Cassie is a star about to burst out.  If I was giving up Cassie, I would have made every attempt to package him for a guaranteed number 1 like Skubal. I do think Cabrera will help the Cubs for the next 5 years.  It was high risk.  Let's hope its high rewards.