Phillies acquire Austin Hays from Orioles in trade for Seranthony Domínguez, Cristian Pache

2024-07-27 00:10:02

The Phillies found their platoon partner for Brandon Marsh from an unexpected source — another contending team.

Two of the best teams in baseball found common ground Friday afternoon when the Baltimore Orioles dealt outfielder Austin Hays to the Philadelphia Phillies for reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. Hays, 29, was a part-time player in 2024 for Baltimore and is expected to fill the same role with the Phillies. He’s hit .328 with an .894 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season. He’s hit .272 with a .791 OPS against them for his career. Hays was an All-Star in 2023 but has lost playing time in 2024. He is making $6.3 million this season and has one more year of club control. He was trending as a non-tender candidate this upcoming offseason for the Orioles.

The Phillies were in a similar position with Domínguez, who two years ago was one of their most trusted bullpen arms as they raced to the World Series. But he’s fallen down the depth chart ever since because of an inability to throw consistent strikes. He has a 4.75 ERA in 36 innings this season, with many coming in lower-leverage situations. The Phillies held an $8 million club option on Domínguez for 2025 and it was becoming a tougher call on whether to exercise it.

Domínguez has maintained his upper-90s fastball velocity in 2024, but he’s thrown first-pitch strikes to only 54 percent of the batters he’s faced. That is the lowest rate of his career. He’s been prone to home runs when he falls behind in the count. His whiff rate has dropped precipitously. But Domínguez has postseason experience as a late-inning reliever. He has the stuff to do it. Baltimore will make a bet on that.

Seranthony Domínguez has a 3.55 career ERA in 230 appearances. (Eric Hartline / USA Today)

Pache played sparingly as a reserve outfielder. His roster spot was in danger as the trade deadline inched closer and the Phillies pursued outfield upgrades.

Now, in Hays, they have a more balanced bench. He’ll likely share time with Marsh in left field, although the Phillies have opened a path to Marsh getting more playing time in center with Hays in left. If Hays hits, he could play more against right-handed pitchers at the expense of Johan Rojas. That remains to be seen.

Hays has had success in a limited sample as a pinch hitter this season. He is 6-for-13 with two doubles. The Phillies, as a team, have only eight hits and three doubles from their pinch hitters in 2024.

The Phillies, by trading from their active roster, retained prospect capital to use in a trade for another reliever. They continue to explore that market, major-league sources said.

Ultimately, in a seller’s market, two teams with championship aspirations traded spare parts that fit each other better.