The Philadelphia Phillies were arguably the best team in baseball at midseason.
As of July 25, 2024, they held a 52-27 record with very few apparent needs on the roster. But in pursuit of a World Series championship, the front office addressed the existing needs anyway, adding closer Carlos Estévez in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels and attempting to make an outfield upgrade by trading for Austin Hays with the Baltimore Orioles.
In 157 at-bats for the Orioles this season, Hays slashed .255/.316/.395 and seemed as if he could be a critical offensive improvement in an outfield platoon that included Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas. But in 78 at-bats with the Phillies following the trade, Hays saw his on-base percentage dip to .275 and he missed significant time with a kidney infection.
In the Phillies’ disappointing playoff run, which saw them bounced from the first round in four games by the New York Mets, Hays struck out three times in four at bats.
Now, it looks like the team will decide not to offer him another contract in his final year of arbitration eligibility, according to FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray.
“One of the Phillies’ midseason acquisitions, outfielder Austin Hays, appears to be a strong potential non-tender candidate,” Murray noted. “It would not be a surprise if he were shopped in the days after the postseason.”
Hays has been projected for a $6.4 million deal in his final season of arbitration, but the Phillies might see his roster spot as too valuable to make room for that in the payroll. Instead, the team could seek any number of bigger boosts for the outfield, perhaps even signing pending free agent Juan Soto.
“Even before the playoff collapse, a big move felt possible,” Murray added. “Now, it feels very possible, and Juan Soto could be a prime target.”
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