In a surprising move before the MLB Trade Deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles. The deal came after years of attempts by Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski to acquire Hays.
According to reports, Hays was a good fit for the Phillies as they were looking for better at-bats from the right side. The 28-year-old outfielder has a proven track record of being a good hitter and can play left field well.
The Orioles acquired right-handed pitcher Seranthony Dominguez and minor league outfielder Cristian Pache in return for Hays. The Phillies were reportedly wary about depleting their farm system, as Dombrowski has a history of trading prospects for established stars.
Hays had been with the Orioles since he was drafted in the third round of the 2016 amateur draft. He played 557 games for them over seven seasons, during which he hit 121 doubles, eight triples, and 66 home runs with a total of 242 RBI.
The Phillies were not the only team interested in Hays before the deadline. The Tampa Bay Rays had also reportedly asked for a top prospect in return for him. However, the Phillies decided to walk away from negotiations due to the high asking price.
Despite his strong performance with Baltimore, Hays' playing time was reduced due to a crowded Orioles outfield and an ice-cold start to the season and a calf strain. The Phillies, who were already known to be looking for bullpen help prior to the trade, saw an opportunity to add a valuable player without giving up prospect capital.
The acquisition of Hays is significant for the Phillies as they are on pace to exceed the luxury tax threshold for the third straight season and would ideally like to avoid the third penalty tier of $277MM. RosterResource has them at roughly a $262.3MM tax number right now, and crossing that line would result in a 95% tax on any overages, as well as dropping their first pick in the 2025 draft back by 10 spots.
The Phillies' new acquisition will join Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, and other teammates to form a strong outfield that could potentially lead them to the World Series. The team is optimistic about their chances with Hays on board.
