Phillies’ Award-Winning Castoff Joins Rival Just One Week After Cut

The Philadelphia Phillies continue to shuffle their pitching mix in hopes of making a deep postseason run after several years of disappointing exits.

In recent weeks, that has meant several changes to the big-league roster as well as the organizational depth, with one award-winning member of the franchise suddenly cast off among the changes.

Young pitcher Jean Cabrera, who joined the Phillies as an international free agent in 2019 and began his professional career two years later, was released from the organization earlier this month, ending what started as a promising tenure.

“Cabrera signed with the Phillies as an international free agent in 2019 and made his professional debut two years later,” Ty Daubert wrote for Phillies Nation following his release. “He had a 1.54 ERA in 13 starts as a 19-year-old in the Dominican Summer League, allowing just one home run and striking out 61 batters compared to 10 walks. He received his Paul Owens Award, given to the top position player and pitcher in Philadelphia’s system each year, alongside Bryson Stott on Sept. 20, 2021, at Citizens Bank Park.”

That early success ultimately led Cabrera through Philadelphia’s minor league system and onto the organization’s 40-man roster in November 2024. He appeared to have a potential path toward the majors, but his development stalled during a disastrous 2026 campaign.

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Cabrera opened 2026 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley before returning to Double-A Reading. The Phillies designated him for assignment in July and eventually released him on August 28.Phillies’ Award-Winning Castoff Joins Rival Just

But Cabrera quickly found his next home by signing a new deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates just one week later, according to the official transaction log.

The move to the Phillies’ in-state rival gives Cabrera an opportunity to reset his career inside another National League organization. His 2026 numbers explain why the Phillies ultimately moved on, but his earlier track record provides a reason for Pittsburgh to take a look.

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The contrast between Cabrera’s emergence and his final season with Philadelphia is stark. He had been coming off a strong 2025 season at Reading, where he established career highs with 26 starts, 137 innings and 127 strikeouts.

The 2026 season went in the opposite direction.

“This year, however, the wheels fell off,” Daubert added. “Cabrera began the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and struggled mightily. He had a 9.32 ERA in seven starts for the IronPigs, and he was demoted to Double-A in May. He was DFA’d on June 6 to make room for outfielder Bryan De La Cruz on the 40-man roster, then outrighted back to Reading when he cleared waivers. With the Fightins, Cabrera had a 6.86 ERA in 14 outings.”

Now, Pittsburgh will see whether a change of organization can help the former Paul Owens Award winner rediscover the form that once made him an intriguing part of Philadelphia’s pitching pipeline.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com