4 prospects the Phillies could move at the trade deadline

With the All-Star break quickly approaching, trade season is right around the corner. This year, Major League Baseball has set the trade deadline for 6 p.m. ET on July 31.

The Phillies will be a club looking to buy. The likeliest areas to be addressed are the bullpen and outfield. While a blockbuster trade may not take center stage for the Phillies at the deadline, meaningful moves are likely. And to get, they’ll have to give.

The Phillies don’t boast a farm system deep with highly ranked talent, especially at the higher levels of the minor leagues. But they do have a few intriguing prospects that could be used to acquire major leaguers to help them improve as they aim to win their first World Series since 2008.

Here are four Phillies prospects that could be named, and ultimately used, as trade chips over the next few weeks.

RHP Mick Abel

Mick Abel might be the best trade chip president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has this year. Abel has bounced back in 2025 after a disastrous 2024. A season ago, the 2020 first-round pick posted a 6.46 ERA for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Command was an issue. Abel walked 78 batters in 108 2/3 innings. But this year, the 23-year-old right-hander has a 2.21 ERA in 57 innings for the IronPigs. He’s walked 26 batters.

Abel’s strong performance prompted a promotion to the majors in mid-May, when he debuted with six innings of shutout baseball against the Pirates to earn the first win of his big-league career. He was sent back down to Triple-A after that outing, but was recalled two weeks later.

Following his recall, Abel started to show cracks, especially in his last two starts. Against the Mets on June 21, Abel allowed four home runs in three innings. Last Wednesday against the Padres, he was charged with five earned runs and walked five hitters in 1 2/3 innings. He was sent back down to the IronPigs last Friday.

Despite the recent struggles with the Phillies, Abel still shows promise. His trade value has likely not diminished over the last month. He’ll turn 24 in August and has room to grow and learn how to pitch in the majors. For clubs looking to boost their young pitching depth, Abel will be attractive. Add on that the Phillies have plenty of starting depth for this year, and in 2026, Abel might be their likeliest prospect used in a trade.

RHP Jean Cabrera

The biggest knock on Jean Cabrera is his size. He’s listed at an even six feet and 145 lbs. But he’s had success in the minors over the last two years. Following a strong showing with High-A Jersey Shore to start last year, in which he posted a 29% strikeout rate and 8% walk rate in 77 innings, the now 23-year-old got bumped up to Double-A Reading last July. After his promotion, Cabrera posted a 4.85 ERA in six appearances (five starts).

So far this year in Reading, Cabrera’s strikeout rate sits at 22.1%. His walk rate is 11.5%. He’s made 16 starts for the Fightin’ Phils with a 3.61 ERA. Cabrera leads the Eastern League with 84 2/3 innings.

The Phillies added Cabrera to their 40-man roster during the offseason to keep him from being eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. There’s something they like about the right-hander. And other teams may feel the same. While he may not be on the same level as Abel, Cabrera could be part of a package that lands the Phillies a solid big leaguer later this month.

INF Aroon Escobar

An ascending prospect, Aroon Escobar started 2025 on fire, batting .360 with a 1.087 OPS in April for the Single-A Clearwater Threshers. He cooled off in May, but was still a productive hitter (.803 OPS). June, on the other hand, was a rough time for the 20-year-old; he slashed .203/.271/.388.

Opening plenty of eyes this year and moving up prospect rankings lists, Escobar has not only been one of the Threshers’ best hitters with a .285/.377/.452 slash line, but has been one of the best hitters in the 10-team Florida State League. Playing mostly second base, Escobar is tied with teammate Eduardo Tait for the FSL lead in home runs with 11. The right-handed hitter also has 12 doubles and 10 stolen bases.

The Venezuelan infielder may not be in the upper tier of Phillies hitting prospects. But he’s knocking on that door in the tier below and is one of the club’s top 10 prospects. Other organizations will likely have an interest in Escobar during trade talks. And if the Phillies are serious about upgrading their roster, they may have to part ways with the rising prospect.

C Eduardo Tait

Tait, a left-handed hitter, doesn’t just lead the FSL with 11 home runs. He’s also tied for the league lead with 18 doubles and is second with 46 RBIs. Tait became a recognizable name for many a season ago when he hit .302/.356/.486 between a combined 80 games in rookie ball and Single-A with 11 home runs and 18 doubles.

In 70 games this year at Single-A, Tait is slashing .257/.334/.452. He’s seen an increase in his walk rate (9.6%) compared to last year, with a similar strikeout rate (19%). He hit a wall at the plate last month like Escobar, hitting .217/.330/.361. Tait has started July 5-for-18 with a double and a home run.

Still a teenager, Tait turns 19 at the end of August. He’s a bat-first catcher with impressive raw power. He’s still an unfinished product at the plate and is far from finished as a catcher. He’s years away from the majors.

The catcher from Panama might be the likeliest position-player prospect to be dealt by the Phillies later this month. Tait isn’t the type of prospect that would headline a package for a big-time player. But he could help the Phillies net a legitimate big leaguer as part of a multi-prospect package.