Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Phillies have non-tendered outfielder Austin Hays, making him a free agent. The decision was made before the 8 p.m. ET deadline on Friday. Hays, who joined the Phillies in July after being traded from the Orioles for Seranthony Domínguez, struggled to make an impact during his short stint with the team.

Catcher Garrett Stubbs and right-handed pitcher Jose Ruiz secured one-year contracts with the Phillies ahead of the deadline, avoiding salary arbitration. Other players such as Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa, Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, and Ranger Suárez were tendered contracts. The Phillies have until January 9 to finalize agreements with these players; otherwise, they may face arbitration hearings during Spring Training.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski had previously suggested that Hays might not return next season. He often referred to Nick Castellanos and Brandon Marsh as part of the team's future outfield plans but noted that trades could alter those plans if favorable deals arise. Johan Rojas was also mentioned as a potential outfield candidate, provided he earns his spot in spring training.

Hays' tenure with the Phillies was marred by injuries, including a strained left hamstring and a kidney infection that affected his performance. In 22 games with Philadelphia, Hays batted .256 with two home runs and six RBIs. His projected salary of over $6 million through arbitration was deemed too high for a player likely limited to a part-time role.

As the Phillies look to strengthen their lineup for next season, they are exploring options for more consistent hitters in the outfield. While there is interest in Juan Soto, managing partner John Middleton expressed skepticism about acquiring him: “I’m afraid Juan Soto wants to be in New York... I get the feeling we’ll probably say... we’ll probably not win this.”

Other free-agent options include Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander, Max Kepler, Tyler O’Neill, Jurickson Profar, and Michael Conforto—each presenting their own set of challenges or limitations. Alternatively, seeking help through trades remains an option but would require significant assets to secure a valuable player.