While Cubs secure future, Cabrera sizzles in Wrigley debut
The Cubs have been deep into the ivy with contract negotiations during the first week of the season, so let's recap the team's future.
Dansby Swanson is signed through 2029, Alex Bregman through 2030 and now Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong through 2032, should the world still exist by then.
The only other players locked into contracts beyond this season are reliever Phil Maton and pitcher Shelby Miller, who is sitting out this season recovering from surgery. Michael Busch is under team control through 2030, so he's not going anywhere.
The corner outfielder spots are the ones in question, since both Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ will be free agents after the season. With all the money spent elsewhere, it's probably safe to say one, maybe both, will be moving on.
If the Cubs wanted to bring a young, cheaper player into the lineup, the obvious choice was Owen Caissie, but he was traded to Miami over the winter.
Which brings us to the importance of Monday's game at Wrigley Field. It was the Cubs debut of 6-foot-5 right-hander Edward Cabrera, the pitcher acquired in the Caissie trade. Jed Hoyer needs this move to click.
On a warm night that felt more like July, Cabrera dominated the Los Angeles Angels and earned a 7-2 victory at Wrigley Field. Cabrera tossed 6 shutout innings, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk, with 5 strikeouts.
“He had everything working and (catcher) Carson (Kelly) felt comfortable with any pitch, any count,” manager Craig Counsell said. “If we get into that mode, it's going to be a tough night for hitters. Just an excellent, excellent outing.”
Cabrera hit 98.1 miles per hour on his fastball, but the breaking stuff is his specialty. The Angels had 13 of their 15 swings and misses against the change, slider and curve. Statcast credited L.A. with just 2 hard hits while Cabrera was on the mound, and this all happened with the wind blowing out at 18 mph.
Cabrera, 27, had a couple good years with the Marlins, three that were OK and a few injuries along the way. He used a translator for his postgame news conference, but when asked if the Cubs changed anything about him as a pitcher, the Dominican Republic native spoke up right away.
“Nope. It's the same,” he said in English.
The Angels are nobody's pick to win the American League, but this game did feature a rare appearance of Mike Trout, who went 0-for-4 at the plate with 2 strikeouts. This was the sixth career game at Wrigley Field for the often-injured, three-time MVP, but first since 2019. He also played on the North Side in 2013 and '16.
For offense, Ian Happ hit his third home run in four games, while Moises Ballesteros had a 2-run single. The Cubs drew 3 walks in the first inning and 2 runs scored when Kelly dropped a bloop single behind second base.
Ex-White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada hit a 2-run homer against Colin Rea for the visiting runs. Rea earned a rare 3-inning save, though.