CHICAGO, Illinois — The Chicago Cubs closed out a difficult series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a decision that attracted attention throughout MLB, as the coaching staff was forced to search for an emergency solution to their bullpen crisis.
After the 4 3 loss to the Brewers, the biggest issue for the Cubs was not their offense, but their inability to protect leads in the final innings.
The team had repeatedly lost opportunities to win when their relief pitchers failed to complete their responsibilities, placing increasing pressure on Craig Counsell’s coaching staff.
In an effort to find an answer, the Cubs decided to move Edward Cabrera into a relief role, a bold change that caused many fans to question the direction of the team.
The decision is considered a major gamble because Cabrera was originally expected to play a much larger role as a starter after the Cubs acquired him to add depth to their pitching rotation.
However, the current situation has forced Chicago to prioritize solving the immediate problem as the bullpen has continuously become a weakness in important games.
Jacob Webb has been unable to complete save opportunities in three consecutive appearances, while Daniel Palencia continues to struggle after returning from injury.
Additionally, Ryan Zeferjahn has not been able to provide stability while posting a 6.23 ERA with the Cubs, forcing the team to search for a new arm in the most pressure-filled situations.
Cabrera brings the qualities the Cubs are missing in their bullpen, with high velocity, strikeout ability, and MLB experience over multiple seasons.
However, the decision to change the role of a player once viewed as an important piece of the rotation has still created many different opinions.
Some fans are concerned that the Cubs are moving too quickly away from their plan of developing Cabrera into a reliable starter in the future.
But for Craig Counsell, this was not an easy decision, but a necessary choice to help the team compete during the most important stage of the season.
“I know everyone is going to say this is crazy. But sometimes baseball forces you to make the toughest decisions. We are not making this change because we lost faith in him, but because we believe he can bring something special to this team at the moment when we need it the most.”
The Cubs understand that every game during the final stretch of the season can directly impact the playoff race, and the bullpen needs an immediate change.
Cabrera has previously made two appearances as a reliever during his MLB career, although he has not regularly taken on this role in the past.
This time, his role will be completely different as the Cubs are counting on his overpowering ability to help them control the final innings.
It is also a major test for Chicago’s coaching staff as they must balance their current goals with their long term plans.
If Cabrera succeeds, Counsell’s bold decision could become a turning point that helps the Cubs stabilize their pitching staff before the playoff stage.
But if it fails, this could become one of the most controversial decisions made by the Cubs during the 2026 season.
Now, all eyes in Chicago will turn toward the new arm in the bullpen, the player expected to become the answer to the Cubs’ most difficult challenge.
