Phillies To Non-Tender Austin Hays

The Phillies have knowledgeable outfielder Austin Hays that they won’t tender him a contract earlier than tonight’s deadline, Jon Heyman of the New York Put up reviews. He’ll instantly turn out to be a free agent with out having to first clear waivers. He’d been projected for a $6.4MM wage by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.

Hays, 29, spent his complete profession with the Orioles earlier than being traded to the Phils in change for Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache a number of days earlier than the 2024 commerce deadline. The Phillies hoped that Hays, who’d battled accidents within the season’s first half, may rebound with higher well being and solidify their outfield combine down the stretch. That’s not how issues performed out, nonetheless. Hays suffered a strained hamstring a pair weeks after the commerce and solely briefly returned earlier than hitting the shelf with a kidney an infection that took a big toll on his physique. He solely took 80 plate appearances with Philadelphia and batted simply .256/.275/.397 in that small pattern.

All instructed, Hays endured three IL stints in 2024, lacking time with that kidney an infection, hamstring pressure and a calf pressure that shelved him for 3 weeks from late April to mid-Might. His mixed .255/.303/.396 slash between the 2 golf equipment was arguably the worst manufacturing of his massive league profession.

Whereas accidents clearly hampered Hays’ 2024 marketing campaign, he’s nonetheless solely a season faraway from an All-Star yr through which he gained a Gold Glove. Hays turned in a pleasant .275/.325/.444 slash with 16 dwelling runs and high quality glovework in left subject as just lately as 2023. He’s lengthy been the kind of participant who thrives in platoon settings and merely holds his personal towards same-handed opponents, however paired together with his defensive acumen that’s sufficient for him to have been a strong common in Baltimore. Hays is a lifetime .277/.331/.469 hitter towards lefties (120 wRC+) and a .254/.304/.415 hitter towards fellow righties (99 wRC+).

Groups in search of a low-cost, right-handed bat to plug into their outfield combine determine to have curiosity in Hays. Many non-tendered gamers finally signal minor league offers, however Hays was a notable sufficient contributor with the O’s from 2021-23 that he must discover a one-year deal in free company, presumably a worth south of his projected arbitration wage.

The Phillies, in the meantime, had been already identified to be available in the market for outfield assist. Hays was a possible non-tender candidate for a while now, although they opted to not make the transfer earlier than at present — presumably gauging the marketplace for potential commerce companions. Philadelphia’s outfield consists of Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas and Nick Castellanos, however the Phils are concerned about including a bat to the outfield and both going with a Marsh/Rojas platoon within the different spot or giving Marsh a bigger position if he can deal with lefties higher than prior to now. The Phillies are planning to satisfy with Juan Soto and can certainly be linked to a wide range of different targets each on the open market and commerce market.