The Philadelphia Phillies front office has generally made a series of strong decisions, leaving little for their loyal fan base to criticize. However, if there’s one area of concern among supporters, it’s the underwhelming offensive output from the outfield.

Beyond Nick Castellanos, there are lingering doubts about the rest of the outfield corps. Brandon Marsh, in particular, has struggled mightily at the beginning of the 2025 season despite being part of a platoon.

One player who could have provided a major boost early on is Austin Hays, now with the Cincinnati Reds but formerly a Phillie. Although an injury has sidelined him in May, Hays started the season on fire, batting .365 and playing a key role in the Reds’ strong start.

The Phillies clearly erred in letting Austin Hays walk

Hays joined the Phillies at the 2024 trade deadline, but the team chose not to bring him back. It’s not as though the roster was overflowing with better alternatives, and Hays’ affordable $5 million salary could have made him an easy option to retain or move on from if necessary.

In fairness, this criticism benefits from hindsight—comparing the Phillies’ current outfield issues with Hays’ hot start in April for Cincinnati.

Had Philadelphia kept Hays and inserted him into the lineup at his current level of performance, there’s a strong chance they’d already be neck-and-neck with the Mets atop the NL East. But that opportunity is gone, and the Phillies must now look to the trade market to address the mistake.

Whether it’s bringing in a power bat, shifting Bryce Harper back into the outfield, or upgrading at center or right field, the team needs to act swiftly to compensate for the decision not to re-sign Hays.