On Friday, ahead of the July 30 MLB trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles. In return, the club sent Seranthony Domínguez and Cristian Pache down I-95 to Baltimore.
The trade was initiated because Hays is a right-handed bat who hits well against left-handed pitching. Now that the team has their additional outfield bat, how will things shake out in Rob Thomson's lineup?
Austin Hays trade will dramatically shake up Phillies' outfield playing time
The newly acquired Hays has spent time at each outfield position but has played the vast majority in left field this season. Prior to trading Pache and releasing Whit Merrifield, the Phillies deployed some version of the pair against left-handed pitching and Brandon Marsh, against right-handed pitchers.
Needless to say, that strategy was not working. The Phillies left and center fielders have struggled this season, particularly against left-handed pitching.
Currently, the Phillies have five players in the mix for outfield positions. One of them is Nick Castellanos, who will continue to see everyday playing time. He is one of the few outfielders in the lineup who has hit southpaws well. On the season the right fielder is hitting .262 with an .805 OPS and 121 wRC+.
Weston Wilson has also handled left-handers well in his small size of plate appearances, but the addition of Hays likely takes him out of the mix.
That leaves left and center field up for grabs. Between Hays, Marsh and Johan Rojas, there are three players fighting for two jobs. Originally it had been thought that Hays and Marsh would platoon in left field with Rojas manning center field. However, Thomson shared his feelings on his new outfielder's playing time with the club in a pregame interview before Friday's game, as posted by NBC Sports Philadelphia.
"I do not see him as a platoon, to tell you the truth," Thomson told the media.
It sounds like it could be more of a Marsh/Rojas platoon in center field, with Hays roaming left field, at least in the short term.
The new acquisition may be worthy of getting a shot at being the everyday left fielder. On the season, the 29-year-old is slashing .255/.316/.395, however, his numbers against left-handed pitching are far better than his season averages. Against southpaws, Hays has a slash line of .328/.394/.500.
The former third-round pick was at a power disadvantage at his home park at Camden Yards in Baltimore after the organization moved back the left field fence prior to the 2023 season. He may find more power and home runs at Citizens Bank Park.
Regardless of how one feels about Hays becoming an everyday player, he will be in the lineup each game against a left-handed pitcher. Marsh is hitting an abysmal .140 against lefties on the season with 7 wRC+. Rojas is not performing much better, hitting just .180 and 12 wRC+, despite being a right-handed bat.
It seems likely that going forward, the outfield will feature Castellanos in right field, Hays in left field, and either Marsh or Rojas in center field depending on the opposing pitchers. That could all change depending on performance, injuries or other acquisitions made before the deadline.