The Phillies and Orioles completed an intriguing trade Friday that saw Baltimore land Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache in exchange for Austin Hays, which represented something of a lengthy pursuit for Phils president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The executive told reporters (including The Athletic’s Matt Gelb and The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber) that “I’ve actually tried to acquire him the last two trading deadlines, and [the Orioles] were asking for much more than we wanted to give.”
The O’s finally budged, perhaps due to both Dominguez addressing Baltimore’s bullpen needs, and Hays’ increasingly expendable nature within a crowded Orioles outfield. An ice-cold start to the season and then a four-week IL stint due to a calf strain led to Hays’ playing time being reduced, though he has hit quite well in a more limited capacity over the last two-plus months. Even with the first six weeks of the season essentially being a wash, Hays has gotten his offensive production back above league average, delivering a 102 wRC+ from a .255/.316/.395 slash line over 175 plate appearances.
It isn’t too far removed from the 108 wRC+ Hays posted over 1677 PA with Baltimore from 2021-23, and his recent hot streak indicates that Hays could certainly still match or surpass that number over the rest of the 2024 campaign. Hays’ numbers against right-handed pitching are far below his career norms, so if those stats in particular pick up, Hays will certainly put himself in line for more of a regular role in the Phillies’ lineup.
“We don’t think he’s just in a position where he has to be platooned by any means,” Dombrowski said about Hays, who for now seemingly will join with the left-handed hitting Brandon Marsh as part of a timeshare in left field. Marsh could also be moved to center field to split time with the righty-swinging Johan Rojas should Hays force his way into everyday duty in left field. As Lauber notes, Marsh’s own splits have cut into his playing time — Marsh has been crushing righties but struggling badly against lefties this season, thus necessitating the Phillies’ need for a right-handed bat for the outfield picture.
Addressing that need cost the Phils an experienced reliever in Dominguez, which was no small matter for a Philadelphia team that was already known to be looking for bullpen help prior to the trade. “We just felt that for us to get a right-handed hitter we had to give up something,” Dombrowski said, and the club will now target “somebody who can pitch innings late in a game that are important innings for us, like our other guys do.”
Carlos Estevez, Tanner Scott, Kyle Finnegan, and Michael Kopech are some of the more prominent relievers linked to Philadelphia’s trade pursuits in recent weeks, and Blue Jays right-hander Chad Green is also “one of the Phillies’ top targets,” in the words of MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (X link). Green is generally considered to be available given how the struggling Jays will be selling to some extent at the deadline, though Toronto is reportedly focusing on selling pending free agents, whereas Green is under contract through the 2025 season.
As per the unusual multi-option terms of the deal Green signed in January 2023, he ended up earning $21MM over the 2024-25 seasons, once the Blue Jays exercised the two-year version of their club option last fall. This translates to $10.5MM in 2025 and roughly $3.5MM left in salary this season. This is no small matter to a Phillies team that is 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 the Phils at roughly a $262.3MM tax number right now, and crossing the $277MM line would give the Phillies a 95% tax on any overages, plus their first pick in the 2025 draft would be dropped back by 10 spots.
The Jays could potentially eat more of Green’s salary if the Phillies were to offer a better prospect return, so there are ways for the Phils to work around the payroll issue (while leaving room for other deadline upgrades) if they decide Green is their guy on the trade market. The veteran righty has a 1.74 ERA over 31 innings for Toronto this season, though his 3.82 SIERA is perhaps a more accurate reflection of Green’s performance. Green has benefited greatly from a 100% strand rate and a .187 BABIP, and his 23.1% strikeout rate is a little below average, while his 7.7% walk rate is pretty respectable.
In other trade roads not taken, Lauber and Gelb both wrote that the Phillies talked with the Rays about Randy Arozarena before the outfielder was dealt to the Mariners on Thursday. Gelb noted that Tampa Bay wanted “a top prospect” in exchange for Arozarena, but the Phils weren’t willing to part with the unknown player.
Landing Arozarena would’ve certainly counted as more of a blockbuster move to address Philadelphia’s need for a right-handed hitting outfielder. While Dombrowski has made a habit of trading prospects for established stars during his storied front office career, it could be that the PBO didn’t want to move whatever particular minor leaguer the Rays wanted, or Dombrowski was wary in general about depleting from the Phillies’ somewhat limited farm system.
I still think they need another OF to replace Rojas. Their offense from OF has been lacking all season.
Although, with the Suarez injury, now SP is a problem.
Suárez injury is definitely for him to get some rest. Rojas is not great and needs to down to the minors.
The Phils are transitioning from having to pay big to build the team while they recovered from the Klentak regime, to having made those investments and needing to have the farm start to produce the next generation of players while they pay the big $$ commitments.
DD has shown some discipline and I like that – sure, the Phils OF has been the weak spot – but Hays and a CF platoon might be enough to squeak by if the stars do their thing. Remember that the Phils are ranked in the top three on both offense and defense.
Get the relief help and call it a day.
OTOH, if DD is going to make a bigger splash then he is playing it well for some deadline day bluff the GM gaming. theory.
Normally I preach patience and prospects, but this team is poised to win now.
Agreed – poised to win now. And they have that team in place from my perspective. Add to the pen and they are certainly a top playoff contender as they are built today.
I don’t mind dealing from their farm depth at all; I just ain’t giving up the top guys unless the return is a controlled, young core piece.
They need to balance moving forward and taking their shots when available. What I have seen over the years, however is that teams that “win” the trade deadline by going all in rarely win the WS anyway and if they do it is most often because of the team that was already there. So given the nature of playoff baseball I would prefer them to be cautiously aggressive and remember that the team is built for long term success as well. Mine the farm, but don’t strip mine the farm.
Wow how purple has changed his tune. Johnny hasn’t backed down from his position in spite of the boos. A right handed power bat to replace Hoskins pop and to balance the lineup. A legitimate closer. Do your work dumbrowski.
I wonder who the “top prospect” DD didn’t want to give up for Arozarena.
They may regret that judgement but they DO need relief and starting pitching more IMHO
I know Taijan is kind of in the doghouse plus not healthy or effective this year IS he still in the mix to at least spread out some IP and help the bullpen.
Crawford? His dad was originally a Ray.
My .02c is the need for a quality starter Nola has not been lights out this year. Right now it looks like 2 1/2 starters. That’s not gonna get out done.
Dombrowski needs to get another starter & still get a bullpen arm
Little late to this party 91.
I hope the Jays sell high on Green. He has a shiny ERA but not the numbers to back it up. Need to take advantage of this market.
You might get a double A prospect.
Arozarena was so stoked to be traded to a contending team that he rushed, not to Seattle, but to the seats in Tampa Bay to watch the Rays play the Reds. That’s the way to show the M’s you’re eager to play for them.