It may already be bad enough to lose a trade in which the better player was sent away. But to have both that traded player and the player that you received in return both end up starring for other teams just a year later is outright disastrous. That is was exactly has happened for the Philadelphia Phillies one year later as fallout from the 2024 trade deadline.
Last year, in dire for outfield help, the Phillies sent reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for former All-Star outfielder Austin Hays. Philadelphia was hoping at the time that Hays could provide a much-needed offensive boost in the outfield from the acquisition.
Both Seranthony Domínguez and Austin Hays are making Phillies' 2024 trade deadline deal look bad
However, Hays never lived up to the potential that was expected of him as he batted just .256 with a .672 OPS, two home runs and six RBIs in 22 games in his short, injury-plagued tenure with the Phillies. He also became a negligible asset during the Phillies’ short postseason run as well.
Fast-forward to the 2025 MLB season. Although Pache never materialized into anything much for the Orioles, Domínguez has since become an integral part of their bullpen. After usurping Craig Kimbrel from the closer’s role down the stretch in 2024, Domínguez has developed into a key middle-to-late inning cog for Baltimore this year. In 35 appearances, he has amassed 11 holds, a 3.15 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in just 34 1/3 innings pitched.
He has found his success by introducing a new splitter, according to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. In 17 1/3 innings since May 26, Domínguez has an 0.52 ERA, 27 strikeouts and just seven walks.
Seranthony Domínguez strikes out Aaron Judge to escape the jam! 😤 pic.twitter.com/w0R1bB1Nfc
— MLB (@MLB) June 22, 2025
Hays has since moved on to the Cincinnati Reds after the Phillies non-tendered him, and is now performing the way they expected him to last year. When healthy, Hays has been an offensive force for the Reds, hitting a solid .281 with an .866 OPS, along with 28 runs scored, nine doubles, eight home runs and 31 RBIs in just 40 games.
That would put Hays on a 112-run, 29-homer, 125-RBI pace over a full season. Just for comparison, Max Kepler, Hays’ replacement in left field this year, is hitting just .211 with a .685 OPS and is on pace for just 70 runs scored, 20 home runs and 60 RBIs over a full season.
Hays was also the only Reds player to manage a hit off Zack Wheeler on Sunday during an otherwise perfect performance from the Phillies' ace.
To have both Domínguez and Hays now making significant contributions with other teams in the league must make things feel worse for the Phillies and their fans. As they say, sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make. For Philadelphia, this one can definitely fall under that category as well. Nevertheless, the Phillies will still have the rare opportunity to right the wrong if they choose to pursue Domínguez at this year’s trade deadline.