The Phillies are parting ways with outfielder Austin Hays, opting to non-tender the former All-Star ahead of Friday's 8 p.m. ET deadline, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The decision marks Hays' first venture into free agency, a year sooner than originally anticipated.
Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline, Hays, 29, was expected to provide a right-handed complement to Brandon Marsh in left field. However, his stint with the Phillies was marred by injury, as a kidney infection limited him to just 22 games over the final two months of the season.
When healthy, Hays struggled to find his rhythm at the plate, posting a .256/.275/.397 slash line with two home runs and six RBIs in 80 plate appearances.
Given Hays’ lackluster performance, the Phillies decided to move on rather than commit to his projected $6.4 million arbitration salary for 2025, as estimated by MLB Trade Rumors.
Hays, however, remains an intriguing option for teams looking to bolster their outfield depth on a more affordable deal. Despite his struggles in Philadelphia, Hays is coming off a solid 2023 campaign, which saw him post a .769 OPS with 16 homers and six defensive runs saved. He was named an All-Star and a finalist for the AL Gold Glove in left field.
A third-round pick by Baltimore in 2016, Hays has a career .261/.313/.432 line with 68 home runs and 248 RBIs over parts of seven major league seasons.
