Phillies, Orioles make surprising trade ahead of deadline

It’s not often that two of baseball’s best teams do business with one another.

But that’s exactly what happened Friday afternoon when the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles swapped some household names.

The Phillies sent reliever Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Christian Pache to Baltimore in exchange for outfielder Austin Hays, the team announced.

Dominguez, 29, has posted a 4.75 ERA in 38 appearances this year, striking out 40 and walking just 12.

The hard-throwing Dominican reliever had become a staple of Philly’s bullpen, with his 149 appearances over the last three years the most for the franchise.

Dominguez’s responsibilities had dipped this year after a fantastic 2022 and a solid 2023, collecting only four holds and one save compared to 29 holds and 11 saves across the last two seasons.

He will join a Baltimore ‘pen that has diminished depth and has blown 16 saves this year — tied for the ninth-most in the league.

Philadelphia, which boasts the best record in baseball (64-38), will look to Jose Alvarado, Jeff Hoffman, and Matt Strahm to anchor the back end of its bullpen.

Meanwhile, Hays, 29, is slashing .255/.316/.395 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 63 games.

After making his first All-Star team last year, the outfielder has dealt with calf and adductor injuries this season.

Beyond that, Baltimore — which sits 61-41 and tied for the best record in the AL — boasts touted outfield prospects Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser.

The Orioles do net some depth in Pache, the former top prospect who’s played in just 98 games the last two years.

Now in Philadelphia, the veteran Hays could allow Brandon Marsh to slide primarily into center field, although he’s not exactly the splash many anticipated Philadelphia would make — such as for the White Sox’s Luis Robert Jr.

Despite their overall team success, the Phillies’ outfield hasn’t been phenomenal, tying for 22nd in wins above replacement as Nick Castellanos has scuffled.

The two East Coast contenders provided further fireworks with the trade deadline just four days away.

Other notable moves thus far include the Rays sending outfielder Randy Arozarona to Seattle and the Diamondbacks landing Marlins reliever A.J. Puk.