More on today's trades and reactions from the Orioles

The trade deadline doesn’t arrive until Tuesday at 6 p.m., but the Orioles got aggressive today. They found the opportunities to strike and didn’t let them pass.

They latched onto a starter under team control beyond 2024 who didn’t cost one of their top prospects. They strengthened their bullpen and added a plus defender for the outfield.

The total cost was outfielder Austin Hays and minor leaguers Jackson Baumeister, Mac Horvath and Matthew Etzel.

Hays went to the Phillies for reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. The Orioles later announced that they acquired Zach Eflin from the Rays.

Eflin will report this weekend. Domínguez and Pache arrived at Camden Yards this afternoon.

Hays rolled out of the ballpark before 3 p.m., one of the longest tenured players sent to another first-place team.

“It’s the big leagues, you know? Anything can happen,” said outfielder Colton Cowser. “Surprised? I can say a little bit, but it’s a business and I’m looking forward to get going again.

“I think ultimately as a clubhouse we have full trust in our front office, and what they ultimately decide to do is up to them. We’re just going to go out there and play.”

“He’s huge,” said catcher James McCann. “He’s a guy that plays elite defense, comes up with big hits in big moments. And he’s a grinder. It’s something we talk about in here is the way we go about our business, the way that we focus on our process, we grind. You don’t use that phrase for first-rounders, typically, but you look at the guys who are first-rounders in this room and they grind. They get after it, they work hard, they play the game the right way, and he fits that mentality. And he was part of that culture being built here.”

Hays was a leader who made a major impact in the community and whose absence will be felt on and off the field. He handled the tricky dimensions in left better than most. And he wasn't afraid to stand at his locker after a tough loss and serve as the spokesman.

“I learned a lot, especially a couple spring trainings with him as well as last year and this year,” Cowser said. “Just taught me a whole lot. A lot on defense and how to play this left field. He’s someone that we’re really going to miss in this clubhouse. He’s a really good leader and I wish him the best.”

Asked what he’s going to miss the most about Hays, Cowser said, “The person that he is. He has really good values and he’s someone who’s a great leader, not only on the field but off the field. I think that’s something that we’re going to miss in this clubhouse.”

Hays was batting .328 with an .894 OPS against left-handers and .204 with a .585 OPS versus right-handers. He won his arbitration case over the winter to earn $6.3 million but another season in Baltimore grew increasingly unlikely. He would have been a non-tender candidate but the Orioles didn’t want to relinquish him for no return.

Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, told reporters that he tried to acquire Hays during the last two deadlines.

Manager Brandon Hyde appreciated the production and intangibles that Hays brought to his club. The Orioles' third-round draft pick in 2016 played through the rebuild and numerous injuries to become established in the majors and earn his first All-Star selection last summer.

Bonds are formed when you go through tough times together.

“He’s one of the guys that’s still here from the original ’19 team, so someone I’ve been with this entire time we’ve been together here,” Hyde said. “He played the game so hard for all the years here in front of the fans, and how he went about his business on a daily basis I have so much respect for. Nobody played (as) hard, nobody played more hurt. He was incredible in the clubhouse, unbelievable in the community and the charity work. Incredible with our PR staff. I know he was wonderful to you guys. He’s a true pro, and to lose someone like that that we’re all close to, it’s tough.

“A close friend for a lot of guys in that clubhouse, and we definitely wish him well. I talked to some Philly people today and told them what kind of person and player he is. They’re getting a special guy. Tough day, but we’re excited about the two guys we’re getting and wish Austin well.

“It’s never easy but it’s also part of the game, part of the business of professional sports. Mike (Elias, the Orioles' executive vice president/general manager) is continuing to do an amazing job of building our roster, so these trades and these types of things happen. At the same time, you give a guy a hug and shake a guy’s hand that you’ve been with for a long time, and you hope that you get a chance to manage him again because he’s been an absolute pleasure to be with every day for quite a few years.”

The McCann and Hays families grew close over the past two seasons. McCann had to break the news to sons Christian and Kane that Hays was traded, that Levi and Hayden wouldn't be able to play with them any longer.

"Their immediate comment was, 'Oh no, Levi and Hayden are going to be gone,'" McCann said. "That's something that a lot of people don't understand is those relationships that are built. Heck, we just spent the last two cities playing at the pool with his kids and my kids all day long. That's the tough part about this game but you hope for the best for Hays and his family and you hope that both teams end up being winners."

Domínguez allowed 11 runs and 15 hits in 10 1/3 innings during the first month. He posted identical 1.04 ERAs in 8 2/3 innings in May and June with one earned run allowed, but he surrendered six runs and seven hits in 8 1/3 over seven appearances in July.

Right-handers have hit .182/.272/.279 against him lifetime, and left-handers have hit .249/.332/.420.

"I faced him numerous times spring training and the regular season," McCann said. "I know I'm looking forward to getting to catch him and not have to hit off him."

Beyond his upper-90s heat, Domínguez brings playoff experience that’s also attractive. He’s allowed two earned runs and three total in 16 innings, with four walks and 25 strikeouts.

“I’m not sure (about Domínguez's) role yet,” Hyde said. “I know we’re getting a guy who has an exceptional arm, and he’s pitched in high-leverage moments and postseasons and big part of their World Series team a couple years ago. We saw him earlier this year. It’s an electric fastball and a really good slider. He’s had his up and down moments this season but he’s somebody that we’re hoping can fit into the back end of our bullpen.”

Pache hasn’t hit in the majors but Hyde described him as “an elite defender.” He’s out of minor league options.

“He can really go play the outfield and go play three spots,” Hyde said, “so he covers us there in three spots.”

Heston Kjerstad is in left field tonight and could play more regularly with Hays gone. He has five at-bats against left-handers this season, collecting three hits.

“We’ll see what the next few days bring,” Hyde said. “We’ll see how the roster shapes up with the deadline coming up.”

The Orioles are buyers but also inclined, as today demonstrated, to trade from the major league roster. Players are braced for anything.

“I think everybody’s very aware because it’s all over the TV and all over your phone that the deadline’s coming up,” Hyde said. “You’re hearing the rumors and don’t know where things are. It’s a strange spot to be in a little bit. When you’re in our position, it’s a lot different than my first few years here when we were wondering and you were hearing rumors the other way. Who’s going to get traded from our team. At the same time, Austin just got traded, so it’s kind of a similar feeling. But I know our guys are excited about looking to add and the help that we could possibly get to go into the postseason. So you’re anticipating.

“I think there’s probably some anxiousness, but I think a lot of these guys have kind of been through this before and just understand that it’s part of the calendar.”

* Hyde didn’t have an update on infielder Jorge Mateo, who’s on the injured list with a dislocated left elbow. Mateo wants a second opinion, with the possibility of undergoing surgery.

“He’s in the training room right now,” Hyde said. “It’s really swollen, so they’re waiting for the swelling to go down before they do any more tests on him.”

* Hyde has posted a .575 winning percentage over the past three seasons, including 2024, compared to .341 in his first three. The jump is unprecedented.

No other manager has topped a plus-234 differential, according to STATS. Ned Hanlon of the old National League Orioles franchise is second at plus-189, registering a .497 percentage from 1892-94 and a .686 percentage from 1895-97.

Cleveland’s Mike Hargrove is third at plus-184 over the 1991-96 seasons, followed by the Phillies’ Gene Mauch at plus-146 from 1960-65 and the Athletics’ Art Howe at plus-131 from 1996-2001.