The Phillies trade reliever Domínguez and outfielder Pache to Baltimore in exchange for Hays, a 2023 All-Star outfielder.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – In a trade between the East Division leaders of both leagues on Friday, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for right-handed pitcher Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. Hays, the American League’s starting center fielder in the 2023 All-Star Game, had a rough start and was placed on the injured list in April due to a left calf strain. In 63 games this season for the Orioles, he only managed three home runs and 14 RBIs.

Baltimore led the New York Yankees by two games and was leading the AL East going into Friday, with a 61-41 record. With a 64-38 record, the Phillies own the best record in baseball. Hays was in Philadelphia, but he wasn’t listed in the Cleveland game’s starting lineup on Friday. The 29-year-old Hays should have the opportunity to have an immediate effect in Philadelphia because he won’t be able to sign a free agent until after the 2025 campaign.

“I do not see him as a platoon player,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “This guy is an All-Star last year. And for whatever reason, I don’t know Baltimore’s situation, but he wasn’t playing every single day. I think that’s maybe affected his numbers a little bit. So I want to see what we have here.”

Originally selected by the Orioles in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Hays played 557 games for Baltimore over parts of seven seasons and had 121 doubles, eight triples, 66 home runs, 242 RBIs and 126 walks. Against left-handers in his career, he has hit .272 with a .328 on-base percentage and .463 slugging percentage.

The Phillies could use Hays in a platoon with left-handed hitting Brandon Marsh in left field as they chase their third straight trip to the playoffs and their first World Series championship since 2008. Thomson added that Hays could win the starting job in left field. Marsh would then platoon in center field with light-hitting Johan Rojas, who has turned into an elite defender.

The 29-year-old Domínguez appeared in 230 games for the Phillies over parts of six seasons. He is 3-2 with one save and a 4.25 ERA this season in 38 games.

Pache hit .202 in 50 games for the Phillies this season.

Marsh never developed into an everyday player because of his overall struggle over left-handers. Marsh, the popular outfielder with his signature wet hair style, has a .140 batting average with two RBIs in 57 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season.

“I’m not really sure why he has struggled so much against left-handed pitching this year,” team president Dave Dombrowski said. “He made some progress last year. We’re a little bit surprised, actually. We still think he will do it, but it’s not something he’s done this year. We still think he has a chance to be an everyday player.”