In a trade involving two of baseball's top teams, the Philadelphia Phillies have acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache.
Hays, 29, was an All-Star for the Orioles in 2023 but saw his playing time decrease with the rise of rookie Colton Cowser. Last year, Hays hit 16 homers with a .769 OPS, but this season he's managed just three homers with a .711 OPS while dealing with injuries.
Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski had been seeking a right-handed hitting outfielder, having tried minor leaguers Weston Wilson and Pache in that role. Hays will now share at-bats with lefty Brandon Marsh, with the possibility of Hays playing left field and Marsh in center, potentially displacing Johan Rojas for a more offense-oriented lineup.
Domínguez, 29, has posted a 4.75 ERA and 1.22 WHIP this season, falling down the Phillies bullpen depth chart with the emergence of All-Stars Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm. Financially, the trade is nearly even, as Domínguez is earning $7.1 million this season and will become a free agent, while Hays is making $6.3 million and is eligible for arbitration one more time.
The Orioles have a track record of turning relievers into top performers, with current bullpen arms like Cionel Perez, Jacob Webb, and Yennier Cano excelling after joining the organization. Domínguez, with an excellent slider and an average of 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 2022, could flourish under their guidance.
Pache, now joining his fourth organization in as many years, is out of options but could add speed and defense off the bench for the Orioles, filling a gap left by Jorge Mateo's wrist injury.
The Phillies currently hold the best record in the major leagues at 64-38, while the AL East-leading Orioles share the AL's best mark, 61-41, with the Cleveland Guardians.
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