The Philadelphia Phillies are non-tendering former All-Star outfielder Austin Hays ahead of Friday's 8 p.m. ET deadline, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The move will make Hays a free agent for the first time in his career, a year earlier than expected.
Philadelphia acquired Hays, an All-Star in 2023, from the Baltimore Orioles ahead of this year's trade deadline. He was supposed to form the right-handed half of a left-field platoon with Brandon Marsh but was limited to 22 games down the stretch because of a kidney infection. When he was healthy, he struggled, hitting .256/.275/.397 with two homers and six RBIs over 80 plate appearances for the Phillies.
His struggles likely prompted the Phillies to move on rather than pay him a higher salary through arbitration. MLB Trade Rumors projected he'd earn $6.4 million in 2025 if Philadelphia tendered him a contract.
Hays, 29, offers some potential value for teams seeking outfield depth at a cheaper price in free agency. He's just one year removed from his best individual season, when he put up a .769 OPS with 16 homers and six defensive runs saved. Hays was named both an All-Star and AL Gold Glove finalist in left field in 2023.
A 2016 third-round draft selection by Baltimore, Hays is a lifetime .261/.313/.432 hitter with 68 homers and 248 RBIs over parts of seven big-league seasons.
