Orioles trade 2023 All-Star to Phillies in attempt to improve bullpen situation

On Friday afternoon, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that the Orioles have traded former All-Star outfielder Austin Hays to the Phillies in exchange for right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Christian Pache.

The two teams had been the subject of trade talks as recently as last week, with rumors about center fielder Cedric Mullins heading to Philly. The return at that point was unknown, but we can assume that the O's had been pursuing pitching help in some capacity.

In Dominguez, the Orioles will get a talented but inconsistent bullpen piece to fill in some of the void created by the absence of Felix Bautista. Dominguez has worked in high-leverage spots in Philly in the past but has totaled just 3 saves over the past two seasons.

In 2024, Dominguez has pitched to a 4.75 ERA with a slightly more encouraging 4.26 FIP. He's notched 40 strikeouts in 36 innings, posting a slightly above average K rate in the process. He'll likely slot in behind the Orioles current high-leverage guys in Craig Kimbrel and Yennier Cano.

Giving up Austin Hays is a tough one for Orioles fans. He was a widely respected guy, one of the few remaining holdouts from the terrible O's teams of the late 2010's.

Hays struggled early on in 2024 and worked around a calf injury that sidelined him for several weeks in the season's first two months. He hit well as a platoon bat in the month of June and in total, has hit .328/.394/.500 against lefties this year.

All told, he likely wasn't a significant part of the O's future with guys like Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad hitting so well, and others on the way. Hays is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of next year and was not a prime extension candidate.

The Orioles will also receive a post-hype defensive outfielder in Christian Pache. The righty has been awful at the plate, posting a career .243 OBP in 545 plate appearances. What Pache will provide is solid defense as a late inning substitution for the O's down the stretch.

Pache still has three years of control, while Dominguez will be a free agent after this year. It's an interesting move from the Orioles perspective. It's not the blockbuster that many fans have been asking for but it could be enough to move the needle in October.