Phillies Nation Roundtable: Reactions to Austin Hays trade

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The Phillies struck early and found their newest outfielder. They acquired Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache four days before the July 30 trade deadline.

Hays, for now, will be the everyday left fielder as Rob Thomson evaluates his options. Domínguez will slot into a higher leverage role for Baltimore. Hays will likely make his Phillies debut on Saturday night against the Guardians.

Here are some reactions on the trade from our Phillies Nation staff.

Bailey Digh, staff writer — Move signifies more to come

Why the Phillies acquired Hayes is obvious – numbers say he’ll be a good platoon partner with Brandon Marsh in left field. In his first 72 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season, Hays has an .894 OPS. Since the start of 2021, he’s batting .282/.338/.478 against lefties with a 126 wRC+.

The more interesting part of this transaction is what the Phillies traded away. Pache probably wasn’t going to be on the roster after the trade deadline anyway. But in trading away Domínguez, the club may now have an additional spot open in the bullpen.

By trading away two big-league players for Hays, the Phillies still have plenty of prospects in their system to use in other potential moves. Maybe instead of adding the one high-leverage arm they’ve reportedly been seeking, the front office will get more aggressive and add two high-leverage arms to really strengthen the ‘pen.

Nathan Ackerman, staff writer — It cannot be “the move”

In and of itself, it’s great. Domínguez’s role had diminished, and whatever righty reliever the Phillies add would diminish it further. Pache was expendable.

It cannot be “the” move — especially if their plan is to start Hays every day and platoon Marsh with Johan Rojas, each of whom have been dreadful against lefties, in center. Absent any other additions, Rojas should theoretically start against righties — he has a .619 OPS against them, compared to .403 against lefties. But that, of course, wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) happen if Marsh is his platoon partner. It should come at Hays’ expense instead.

If they let Marsh and Hays platoon in left, good. If they add, say, lefty-masher Lane Thomas to platoon with Marsh in center while Hays plays left and Rojas’ glove becomes an asset off the bench, great. But the current plan leaves a bit to be desired. 

Destiny Lugardo, deputy editorial director — The Orioles got fleeced

I will not mince words: Everyone’s favorite baseball executive Mike Elias just got fleeced. We will all look back fondly on Seranthony’s run of dominance in the 2022 postseason and what he has meant to the team’s rebuild, but he hasn’t been the same since and didn’t have much of a path to being one of the team’s trusted relievers in October this year. Maybe if this situation was flipped around, the Orioles would feel they pulled off a fleecing because they needed to open up playing time in the outfield for younger players. But the fact that the Phillies were able to keep all of their prospects and get the right-handed bat in the outfield they needed has to feel good. 

If a trade like this, however, is reflective of the price of relief pitching in this market, that’s not a great sign for the Phillies as they try to acquire one or two high leverage arms.

Tim Kelly, editorial director — Orioles could win this trade

I think this trade has a chance to work out well for both teams.

Elias has built an insane pipeline of position-playing talent, and that made Hays expendable. At the very least, he’ll be an upgrade in left field when the Phillies are facing a lefty. His career numbers also suggest he can handle righties better than he has this year.

As for Domínguez, he’s a great guy that had some incredible moments. He’s lost his control, but still has great stuff. If the Orioles can get him back on track, I think they’ll win this trade.

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