Hot stove season is heating up in the MLB as a few teams have already made moves a week ahead of the trade deadline in an effort to tighten up rosters and strengthen their foundations ahead of the postseason.
One former All-Star was recently traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, and he opened up about what it’s like to join another first-place team.
Former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays was recently traded to the Phillies, and when asked about joining his new team in a recent press conference, he said “To go from one winning team to another winning team, that’s probably everything you could ask for as a player.”
Austin Hays on joining the Phillies: “To go from one first-place team to another, that’s probably everything you could ask for as a player.” pic.twitter.com/GgsIGuxoiA
Hays also said he feels like he is joining a team that has an even better chance of winning a World Series.
The Phillies acquired Hays on Friday for reliever Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Christian Pache and will be hoping Hays can return to the form he showed last year when he started in center field for the American League in the All-Star game.
Hays got off to a rough start this season before hitting the IL with a calf strain and has posted a .255 batting average with just three home runs and 14 RBIs in 63 games this year.
The 29-year-old had been a mainstay in Baltimore’s outfield over the past three years and posted a .769 OPS last season with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs.
Hays will add depth to the Phillies lineup and provide another right-handed bat who can potentially platoon with Brandon Marsh, who is hitting just .140 against lefties this year.