Former Phillies trade chip already DFA'd by Orioles

Well, that didn't take long. Less than 48 hours after the MLB trade deadline passed at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, one recently traded former Philadelphia Phillies player has already found himself in limbo.

Former Phillies trade chip Cristian Pache already DFA'd by Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Thursday afternoon that outfielder Cristian Pache has been designated for assignment. It was just one of a series of roster moves made by the AL East-leading O's.

The Phillies traded Pache to Baltimore on July 26, along with reliever Seranthony Domínguez, in the package for outfielder Austin Hays. The former Phillies outfielder appeared in three games for the Orioles, registering a hit in his one at-bat.

The Phillies are already seeing benefits from the trade, with Austin Hays patrolling left field on an everyday basis. He has already contributed more with the bat in five games than Pache did in his limited role this season. Hays has collected five hits, including a home run and a double, with four RBI and a pair of stolen bases in his 22 plate appearances.

In his 50 games with the Phillies this year, Pache hit just .202 with a .557 OPS and a 36.4 strikeout rate in 104 at-bats. The 25-year-old former top prospect chipped in nine RBI but didn't register a home run or a stolen base. With the Phillies needing more offense from their outfielders, Pache's stellar defense wasn't good enough to keep him around at the end of the bench.

Why the Orioles would trade for Pache only to designate him for assignment days later is confusing. The Phillies could have designated him and saved him the trip to Baltimore. If he's not claimed on waivers and doesn't accept the assignment to Triple-A, he'll become a free agent.

Would the Phillies consider bringing Pache back on a minor league deal to add additional outfield depth? It's unlikely, but you never know. If he ends up in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he'll have a tough time getting back to the majors this season.