PHILADELPHIA — In July, the Phillies acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Orioles, sending Seranthony Domínguez to Baltimore in exchange for a right-handed bat to improve their performance against left-handed pitching. However, Hays didn’t make an impact, and his tenure with the team ended Friday when the Phillies non-tendered him before the 8 p.m. ET deadline, making him a free agent.
Before the deadline, catcher Garrett Stubbs and right-handed pitcher Jose Ruiz each agreed to one-year deals to avoid salary arbitration. Infielders Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa, and Bryson Stott, outfielder Brandon Marsh, and left-hander Ranger Suárez were all tendered contracts as expected. The Phillies have until January 9 to finalize agreements with these players. If no deals are reached by then, the team and players will exchange arbitration figures, which could lead to hearings in Spring Training.
Hays’ departure had been anticipated for some time. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski had repeatedly suggested since the end of the season that Hays would not be returning, often pointing to Nick Castellanos and Marsh as key pieces of the 2025 outfield, though either could be traded for the right deal. Dombrowski also mentioned Johan Rojas, but emphasized that Rojas would need to earn his spot in the spring.
When the Phillies acquired Hays, they highlighted his past as an All-Star and an everyday player. However, his time in Philadelphia was marred by injuries. Shortly after joining the team, Hays strained his left hamstring, and then missed several weeks due to a kidney infection, which severely impacted his strength and performance. He was never able to return to his previous level of play.
Hays struggled in the postseason, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Games 2 and 3 of the NL Division Series. He wasn’t in the starting lineup for Game 4 against Mets left-hander José Quintana, a pitcher the Phillies had hoped he would excel against when they acquired him. With the team’s season on the line, they turned to Weston Wilson in left field.
During his brief stint with the Phillies, Hays, 29, hit .256 with two home runs, six RBIs, and a .672 OPS over 22 games. His projected arbitration salary of over $6 million was deemed too high for a player who was likely to serve in a part-time role, leading to his non-tendering.
Looking ahead to 2025, Nick Castellanos is expected to remain in right field, while Marsh and Johan Rojas could form a platoon in center. Top prospect Justin Crawford may also make his way to the majors at some point. The Phillies, however, are still searching for a more consistent hitter to improve their outfield production. They are particularly interested in finding a player who can put the ball in play more reliably.
While the Phillies have expressed interest in Juan Soto, they don’t expect to land him. Phillies managing partner John Middleton recently admitted that Soto likely prefers a move to New York, and while the team might be involved in the bidding, he doesn’t expect the Phillies to secure the star outfielder.
Among other free-agent options are Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander, Max Kepler, Tyler O’Neill, Jurickson Profar, and Michael Conforto. Each of these players has their own set of concerns: Hernández and Santander have power but strike out frequently; Kepler has struggled in recent years; O’Neill is injury-prone and also strikes out a lot; Profar had a strong season with the Padres but has been inconsistent in the past; and Conforto’s performance has been mixed since returning from injury.
The Phillies could also look for help via trade, but acquiring a player who fits their needs would likely come at a high cost.
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