Four days before the 2024 MLB trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies have struck what could be the first of multiple trades, acquiring outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles.
Phillies trade for Austin hays
The Phillies announced the trade between the two leaders of their respective leagues and will send Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache to Baltimore. It’s an intriguing trade between two playoff-bound squads that involves only major leaguers being moved.
After Randy Arozarena was scooped in a trade by the Seattle Mariners, the Phils went and got themselves a much-needed upgrade in the outfield — and they didn’t even use any minor-league prospects to do it. This bodes well for their ability to make future trades, both in the days leading up to the deadline and perhaps in the offseason.
Hays, a 2023 All-Star who will wear No. 9 with the Phillies, has a .711 OPS across 63 games/175 plate appearances this season with 40 hits, three home runs, and 14 RBI. The 29-year-old should serve as a very nice platoon bat in left field with Brandon Marsh, as his splits against left-handed pitching are quite good: .328/.394./500 in 72 plate appearances this season. With Marsh’s splits against righties (.279/.360/.482 in 225 PAs this season), the Phillies have themselves a great combined hitter in the outfield.
Hays’ defense in left field has graded out positively in the past but will join the Phillies with -4 defensive runs saved and -1 outs above average. If he can bounce back to being at least an average defender and continue being impactful at the plate, he should have a positive impact on the Phillies as they look to win the World Series.
Phillies say goodbye to two players in exchange
Dominguez, whose stint with the Phillies started in 2018, pitched 220.2 innings in the red pinstripes and sported a 3.55 ERA, emerging as one of the key bullpen arms in their run to the 2022 World Series. He closed out the Atlanta Braves in the 2022 NLDS with three strikeouts and didn’t allow any runs in the 5.1 innings he pitched in the 2023 postseason.
The 2024 season hasn’t been kind to Dominguez, though, as he has a career-worst 4.75 ERA. Moving on from him indicates that the Phillies will pursue another relief pitcher ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. He now heads to a new team with Pache, whose stint in Philadelphia comes to a close in its second season.
The emergence of Colton Cowser made Hayes more expendable for the Orioles, who will retain some outfield depth with a strong defender in Pache and bring another former Phillie into their bullpen. Dominguez will reunite with Craig Kimbrel, who has had a rocky season with the O’s.
AP Photo/Chris Szagola
