The Philadelphia Phillies have chosen not to tender a contract to left fielder Austin Hays, who is now set to become a free agent. After acquiring him at the trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles, the Phillies had envisioned him stepping into an everyday left field role.
His short time in Philly was marred by health problems. He grappled with a hamstring strain, a kidney infection, and a back injury. These issues limited him to just 22 games with the club. When he was able to play, his slash line read roughly .256/.275/.397 with only two home runs. His postseason showing was minimal: he went hitless in four at‑bats.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski was blunt about the decision. He said that the team “did not see a good version of Austin Hays” and noted that the version of Hays they saw didn’t match what he had shown in the past.
In the wake of non‑tendering Hays, the Phillies have started making moves to retool their outfield. One of the most notable is the signing of Max Kepler to a one‑year deal, which is expected to help fill out the corner outfield spots.
Some analysts believe that this could be a mistake. They argue that if Hays is healthy, he still has upside and could be an undervalued player on the free‑agent market.
All told, the decision reflects Philadelphia’s assessment that they need more consistent performance, particularly in the outfield, heading into their postseason push
