Miami Marlins: The metrics show that it's time to move Edward Cabrera to the Bullpen

Edward Cabrera has been a fascinating case study during his time with the Miami Marlins. The starter has long drawn praise for his high upside and elite pitch metrics. However, across more than 300 major league innings, he has yet to fully realize that potential.

In 2025, Cabrera currently sports a 6.52 ERA, raising his career mark to a middling 4.39. Coupled with his ongoing injury concerns and erratic control (he holds a career 1.350 WHIP), it’s fair to ask: Is the Edward Cabrera experiment nearing an unfortunate end?

And yet, the advanced metrics suggest a path forward—one that could still unlock his value at the major league level: a transition to the bullpen.

A Case of Diminishing Returns

At 27 years old, Cabrera has some of the most interesting per-inning splits in baseball. Across his career, he’s posted a solid 3.17 ERA in innings 1–3. But when asked to go deeper into games, the wheels come off—his ERA skyrockets to 6.46 in innings 4–6.

For whatever reason, hitters adjust and succeed dramatically after seeing Cabrera once. That’s a serious problem for a starter. But it also presents a very simple solution: don’t let them see him twice.

Cabrera Could Be a Bullpen Weapon

A move to the bullpen would eliminate the primary source of Cabrera’s struggles. Limiting him to shorter stints would all but guarantee he faces each hitter just once—a setup that aligns with the success he’s already demonstrated in early innings.

In this role, Cabrera could realistically produce an ERA in the high 2s or low 3s—a far cry from his current performance as a starter.

His swing-and-miss potential even suggests future closer upside. But his ability to handle heavier workloads could make him an even more valuable asset: a high-leverage, multi-inning reliever.

The Dream Scenario

Imagine a world where Miami’s top starters—Sandy Alcantara, Max Meyer, Eury Pérez (once healthy), and Thomas White (post-call-up)—each deliver 5–6 solid innings in a series.

Now imagine having an enhanced version of Cabrera waiting in the bullpen, ready to bridge the gap between the starter and the closer. He could give the team 2–3 clean innings, neutralizing lineups the first time through, and consistently preserving tight leads.

In this role, Cabrera could even become the rare closer capable of four-, five-, or six-out saves—a throwback in terms of workload, but built on modern analytics.

The Verdict

The numbers are clear. The trend is clear. And the fit is obvious.

If the Marlins—led by President Peter Bendix, manager Clayton McCullough, and a data-savvy front office—want to get the most out of Edward Cabrera, they should lean into the evidence and transition him to the bullpen.

Sometimes, unlocking a player’s value isn’t about changing the player. It’s about changing the role.