The Orioles and Phillies made an unusual trade today
We have a rather unusual deal today involving a pair of contenders, with the Baltimore Orioles sending outfielder Austin Hays to the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Cristian Pache and reliever Seranthony Dominguez.
Hays, who was a starter for the Orioles the previous three seasons, and who made the All Star team last year, has been largely relegated to the short side of a platoon role at this point with the emergence of Colton Cowser. Although he has struggled against righthanders, Hays is hitting .328/.394/.500 against lefties. Hays is making $6.3 million this year, and has one more year of team control remaining.
In return for a bench bat, the Orioles get a defense-first fourth/fifth outfielder and a struggling veteran reliever. The 25 year old Pache is a former top prospect who was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Oakland A’s as part of the package for Matt Olson. After an awful season with Oakland in 2022, Pache was sent to the Phillies prior to the 2023 season for Billy Sullivan. After a useful season in 2023, slashing .238/.319/.417 in 95 plate appearances over 48 games, Pache’s bat has disappeared this year, as he is slashing .202/.288/.269. Pache is arbitration-eligible after this season, though would seem to be a possible non-tender candidate if he doesn’t hit a little more.
Domingues, 29, is a righty reliever who is in the second year of a two year deal that features an $8 million team option for 2025 that would seem likely to be declined. He has spent his entire career in the Phillies organization, and has had a couple of very solid seasons as a reliever mixed in with some less solid ones. This year, he is sporting a 4.75 ERA and a 4.26 FIP.