Hear me out…Austin Hays

[Answerman]

As the starting outfielder in this year’s All Star game, with multiple years of cheap control, is he our best trade chip? With Cowser’s arrival (granted batting average is not where it will be, but he’s having quality at bats and belongs in Baltimore), and Kjerstad kicking in the door, and trying to find at bats for Hicks and Santander and eventually Mullins, our outfield is really crowded. 
 

No doubt he is a good player, but would Austin’s production really be missed? Is it crazy to trade a starter during a playoff chase?

What kind of return would he fetch? Bednar? Another quality reliever? Would Miami send a young starter? Seems like any pitching we get for him would help the team more than keeping him. Am I nuts?

[ScGO's]

Hays and Santander are probably both at peak value right now. It doesn't mean you trade them, but if Elias felt like the return made the team better this year then I'm all for it. Would have to be a return of pitching I would think

[wildcard]

If the O's want to get to the playoffs with a chance to win in the playoffs they keep Hays.   

Mullins is out until who knows.   Hicks is injury prone and could be gone at any time.  Cowser is  still going through his adjustment to the majors. And Kjerstad has not even started that adjustment.

I believe Elias values Hays and will not trade him.    Instead he will be shopping Stowers, Prieto, and/or Norby for relievers is my guess.

Edited July 24, 2023 by wildcard

[Pat Kelly]

Crazy idea - Austin Hays for Kyle Schwarber.  Phillies need RHH and OFers. Schwarber adds Homerun power, playoff experience would make the LH lineup especially when Mullins comes back the best in the league.   Doubt Philly would trade him though. 

[RZNJ]

Hays or Santander should get dealt in the off season.   I prefer to keep Santander over Hays.  No one is going anywhere this year.

[Billy F-Face3]

The only way you can even entertain an idea like that during a World Series push, is if you’re getting an MVP or you’re multiplying All Stars that you're getting in return.

You don't trade away key pieces and cornerstones of a team that with the 2nd best record in baseball unless you are multiplying that production. And even then, you are taking a risk because there's no guarantee the other players you get will perform the way they are expected, plus you are changing the locker room chemistry by trading away a key piece of the team. 

In other words, it's ill-advised and highly unlikely in a year like this. 

[Bemorewins]

10 minutes ago, Answerman said:

As the starting outfielder in this year’s All Star game, with multiple years of cheap control, is he our best trade chip? With Cowser’s arrival (granted batting average is not where it will be, but he’s having quality at bats and belongs in Baltimore), and Kjerstad kicking in the door, and trying to find at bats for Hicks and Santander and eventually Mullins, our outfield is really crowded. 
 

No doubt he is a good player, but would Austin’s production really be missed? Is it crazy to trade a starter during a playoff chase?

What kind of return would he fetch? Bednar? Another quality reliever? Would Miami send a young starter? Seems like any pitching we get for him would help the team more than keeping him. Am I nuts?

Absolutely yes!! 

Why would we (a team with the best record in the league and a realistic chance at a World Series) be willing to make our team worse this season in order to hedge for future seasons especially with a farm system this good?

I'm not going to call you nuts. But I think you are asking the wrong questions. We don't have a credible player to stand in for Hays and reliable give us an .800 OPS right now. Sure Cowser and Kjerstad COULD give us that kind of production. But that is a BIG RISK. 

[Orioles Jim]

I’d do it on merits no doubt, I’d just be worried about what it’d do to the locker room from a team chemistry standpoint.

[connja]

22 minutes ago, ScGO's said:

Hays and Santander are probably both at peak value right now. It doesn't mean you trade them, but if Elias felt like the return made the team better this year then I'm all for it. Would have to be a return of pitching I would think

We have a chance to win the World Series this year and these guys are our most productive players.  There is no way in hell either are getting traded.  While Cowser may be a great long term asset and ultimately replace one of these guys, he's clearly not ready to lead a playoff charge.  

[connja]

12 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

Absolutely yes!! 

Why would we (a team with the best record in the league and a realistic chance at a World Series) be willing to make our team worse this season in order to hedge for future seasons especially with a farm system this good?

I'm not going to call you nuts. But I think you are asking the wrong questions. We don't have a credible player to stand in for Hays and reliable give us an .800 OPS right now. Sure Cowser and Kjerstad COULD give us that kind of production. But that is a BIG RISK. 

Completely agree.  No chance these guys get traded this year.

[ShoelesJoe]

16 minutes ago, Pat Kelly said:

Crazy idea - Austin Hays for Kyle Schwarber.  Phillies need RHH and OFers. Schwarber adds Homerun power, playoff experience would make the LH lineup especially when Mullins comes back the best in the league.   Doubt Philly would trade him though. 

Schwarber is making $20 million a year through 2025, and has next to no defensive value. Even w/o Mullins we have LH bats in Henderson, Cowser, and O'Hearn plus three switch hitters. I don't think we'll be adding any position players at the trade deadline, and almost certainly not any LH position players not named Ohtani. 

[OriolesMagic83]

20 minutes ago, Pat Kelly said:

Crazy idea - Austin Hays for Kyle Schwarber.  Phillies need RHH and OFers. Schwarber adds Homerun power, playoff experience would make the LH lineup especially when Mullins comes back the best in the league.   Doubt Philly would trade him though. 

Schwarber has a negative WAR due to his defense being so bad.  I can't see how replacing Hays good defense and great arm with Schwarber is going to help the O's.  O's need better OF defense not work.  I would like to see Santander getting most of his playing time at 1B/DH.  We don't need to add the worst OF in baseball to the O's OF.

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

Schwarber has a negative WAR due to his defense being so bad.  I can't see how replacing Hays good defense and great arm with Schwarber is going to help the O's.  O's need better OF defense not work.  I would like to see Santander getting most of his playing time at 1B/DH.  We don't need to add the worst OF in baseball to the O's OF.

His defense is bad and his offense really isn't that good.  OPS+ of 102, hitting .185 with an OBP of 310.  He'll give you dongs but very little else.

[yark14]

You don't trade Hays with Mullins out until who knows when.  Period.

[dystopia]

Why does this board act like sellers when we're buyers?