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This was unexpected
We have our first trade of the season for the Phillies:
The Phillies have acquired OF Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for RHP Seranthony Domínguez and OF Cristian Pache. Hays will wear No. 9.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 26, 2024
Hays on the season is hitting .255/.316/.395 for the Orioles, with three home runs and 14 RBI in 175 plate appearances. It’s a 103 wRC+ for the season, a bit above average but a marked improvement over Cristian Pache and an answer to their issues in left field.
The question you’re already asking yourself – can he hit left handed pitching? This year, in 72 plate appearances, he’s hitting .328/.394/.500 against left handers. Career, he’s a .272/.328/.463 hitter against left handers, so there is a difference there. In the field, he’s graded out as roughly an average defender, though this year, he’s got -2 OAA at the moment.
For his services, the Phillies had to part with a piece from their bullpen that it looks like they have given up on. Seranthony Dominguez was a valuable member of their bullpen during the 2022 playoff run, teaming with Jose Alvarado to shut down opponents almost at will until he simply ran out of gas. Since then, he struggled with his control and fallen down the bullpen pecking order to the point where the team felt comfortable enough making this deal. For Pache’s part, the team was likely going to part with his services once the deadline was over, so his going to Baltimore gives the Phillies another open roster spot to play with.
With Hays in hand, it begs the question about how he will be used. Does the team install him as the permanent starter in left field and create a platoon situation in center field with Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas? Is there more to come as far as acquiring another outfielder? Likely, this is the first domino to fall at the deadline for the Phillies, so we’ll see how this all shakes out.