Philadelphia Phillies Eye Options As Austin Hays Thrives With Cincinnati Reds

As the Philadelphia Phillies search for a right-handed bat that can play the outfield, one guy they traded for in 2024 is opening eyes with his new team in 2025.

The Phillies traded RHP Seranthony Dominguez and OF Christian Pache to the Orioles in exchange for Hays, who ended up missing time with a back injury and dealing with a kidney infection.  Hays ended up playing in just 22 games with Philadelphia before being non-tender in November.

Hays found a new home in Cincinnati with the Reds, getting a one-year, $5 million deal, and has already shown some signs of a rebound in 2025, going 3-for-3 with two homers and six RBI on Monday in a Cactus League game.

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"I just want to prove I am myself and back to who I can be in the field," Hays told reporters after the game.

An All-Star game starter in 2023, Hays has mashed left-handed pitching, something the Phillies are looking for in their outfielder. In his career, Hays has hit .277 23 home runs, and 71 RBI in 702 at-bats against lefties.

Without Hays, the Phillies inked left-handed outfielder Max Kepler to play left field, and have guys like Buddy Kennedy, Edmundo Sosa, Cal Stevenson, and Kody Clemens battling for a roster spot to play some left field with right-handed hitting Weston Wilson out for a while with an oblique injury.

One can argue the Phillies would have been better off bringing Hays back to at the very least platoon in left field with a left-handed bat.