Phillies acquire Asdrubal Cabrera from the New York Mets

The Phillies have finally made a big trade for an infielder

Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera has been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitching prospect Franklyn Kilome. It’s the first acquisition made by the team at the deadline since the team’s rebuilding efforts began.

Andy Martino of SNY first reported the deal, and Jim Salisbury of NBCS Philadelphia has also confirmed the deal is done pending physicals.

The 32-year-old Cabrera projects to platoon with Scott Kingery and J.P. Crawford at shortstop while providing depth on the bench as a switch-hitter. In 98 games he’s hitting .277 with 18 home runs for New York, and enters free agency after this year.

Kilome was Philadelphia’s 10th overall prospect pitching in Double-A Reading, but has fallen off this year statistically. The 23-year-old righty, who was scheduled to start Friday, has a 4.24 ERA in 19 starts this season.

Cabrera will certainly inject additional energy and leadership into one of the youngest clubhouses in baseball. He’s primarily played shortstop in his 12 major league seasons but has mostly played second this year. How the Phillies will use him for the remainder of the season is to be seen.

He’s been hot in the month of June with five home runs in 20 games with a .269 batting average, five doubles, and 10 walks.

Adding Cabrera is no indictment on how Kingery has played at shortstop this year. The top second base prospect coming into the season has improved defensively at short in place of the oft-injured Crawford, who is returning from a broken hand.

It’s an interesting addition, and may not be the last made by Matt Klentak. Roman Quinn was added as the fourth outfielder prior to Friday’s game, but the organization has been linked to Adam Jones and Curtis Granderson.