Phillies acquire LF Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for reliever Seranthony Dominguez and centerfielder Cristian Pache. 

Phillies acquire outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles

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 primarily plays left field. He was drafted in the third round (91 Overall) in the 2016 MLB Draft. Last season was his best in Baltimore, hitting .275 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI over 41 games with the O’s. 

Austin Hays is hitting .255 with a .711 OPS this season. He has three home runs and 14 RBI over 157 at-bats. Not exactly the splash that Phillies fans were looking for, but definitely an upgrade over Pache in the outfield.

You would have to think that Hays will be a platoon option in the outfield. Against righties,
Hays is hitting just .204 while posting .585 OPS with two homers and 7 RBI in 47 at-bats this season. Over his last 30 games, Hays has posted a .311 batting average with a homer and 5 RBI. 

Key stat for Austin Hays…vs. Left: .328 BA | .894 OPS | HR | 7 RBI 

Hays has a career 111 OPS+ against left-handed pitching. This season, he’s hit .328 to the tune of an .894 OPS with a home run and 7 RBI against lefties.

Hays Insurance Co. pic.twitter.com/MGfR9UnWm2

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 15, 2023

Good Trade, but the Phillies need more

Austin Hays is a solid pickup for the Phillies but I still believe they need another outfielder. A platoon is great and Hays is definitely an upgrade but there’s still Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas getting significant playing time on what’s supposed to be a World Series roster. That will always be an area of concern when playing in October.

Tip of the cap for Seranthony Dominguez

Dominguez hasn’t returned to form since the Phillies 2022 World Series run. This season, he’s posted a 3-2 record with a 4.75 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over 36 innings pitched.

By trading Seranthony Dominguez, you have to think that Dave Dombrowski will be looking to add a one or two more relievers ahead of next week’s trade deadline.

The King:

Thank you, Seranthony Dominguez 👑 #RingTheBell | #Phillies pic.twitter.com/XPR4dXU5iD

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) July 26, 2024

Good Luck, Cristian Pache

While providing an elite skillset on the base paths and in the outfield, Cristian Pache still struggles at the plate and the Phillies have now officially given up on trying to get him to hit at the major league level. 

In just over 100 at-bats this season, Pache hit just .202 with a .557 OPS. He had zero home runs and 9 RBI.