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The Philadelphia Phillies have rebounded from a terrible start to the season, and now they're likely to pursue some upgrades at the MLB trade deadline.
To improve the roster, they're going to need to use their prospects, and their biggest upgrades will likely come from using some of their top-30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.
If a prospect is inside the top-15, they should be fairly valuable.
That's why it was a bit of a surprise when the Phillies announced they were designating for assignment their No.
13-ranked prospect, Jean Cabrera.
Why did they DFA such a highly ranked prospect? The answer is a bit complicated.
Why the Phillies DFA'd No.
13-ranked prospect Jean Cabrera "Following last nights game against the Kansas City Royals, the Phillies signed outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a major league contract and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Jean Cabrera was designated for assignment," the Phillies announced Sunday.
Philadelphia is DFA'ing Cabrera on Sunday and is signing former Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a Major League contract.
Cruz had the option to invoke a contract clause to either get promoted to the 40-man roster or for the Phillies to release him.
Dave Dombrowski and company are electing to keep Cruz, and to make room on the 40-man roster, they're DFA'ing Cabrera.
Cabrera is the Phillies' No.
13-ranked prospect and is a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher.
While he drew a lot of attention after 2025, with a 3.81 ERA in 26 starts, this season hasn't been nearly that good.
MORE: Aaron Nolas struggles might force Phillies to trade for a starting pitcher Across 15 starts this season at Double-A and Triple-A, he has a brutal 9.10 ERA.
Cabrera has 46 strikeouts and 32 walks in 62.1 innings pitched this season with a terrible 1.94 WHIP and .340 batting average against.
While Cabrera was a riser in the Phillies' farm system, he's struggled so much this season that the Phillies' DFA'ing him, unfortunately, makes sense.
There is still a chance that Cabrera returns to the Phillies organization if no other team is interested.
But the Phillies might also find an interested team and get the chance to trade Cabrera for something, rather than lose him for nothing.
So, while for now the Phillies have DFA'd their No.
13-ranked prospect, there's a chance he's back in the organization, or he's traded rather than simply being released.
But, either way, this roster move is an indictment of what the team thinks of Cabrera amid a disastrous 2026 season.
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