Red Sox Rival Makes Win-Win Trade With Fellow World Series Contender

We've seen some unlikely dance partners pop up just days before the MLB trade deadline.

First, the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays -- two teams separated by 1/2 a game in the American League standings -- came together for a deal Thursday night that immediately boosted the former's lineup while giving the latter a few long-term pieces.

Then, on Friday, the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies -- two World Series hopefuls in first place -- converged for a trade that makes total sense for both sides.

The Orioles shipped outfielder Austin Hays to the Phillies in exchange for reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache.

The move between division leaders -- the O's entered Friday with a two-game lead in the AL East, whereas the Phils own a 9 1/2-game edge in the NL East -- entails each team dealing from an area of strength to address an area of weakness.

Baltimore boosts its bullpen with Domínguez, a hard-throwing right-hander who's battled some inconsistency this season but has valuable late-inning experience. Domínguez, 29, can serve as another bridge to the Yennier Cano-Craig Kimbrel back-end tandem, and he joins the Orioles with an $8 million club option for 2025.

Pache, 25, is a glove-first outfielder with speed. He doesn't provide much in the batter's box -- hence the Phillies' decision to target Hays -- but he could be a useful player down the stretch and into the postseason, capable of providing excellent defense in center field.

Hays, an All-Star in 2023, started slow this season but since has rebounded nicely, contributing to a .255/.316/.395 slash line with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 63 games (175 plate appearances). The 29-year-old will give the Phillies a right-handed-hitting platoon option alongside Brandon Marsh, while the Orioles can feel comfortable moving Hays given their excellent corner-outfield depth. Hays is under contract through 2025.

All in all, this is a rather fascinating trade, namely because it involves three major leaguers and Baltimore and Philadelphia have been atop the American League and National League standings, respectively. Perhaps the contenders will meet up in this year's Fall Classic, at which point the players involved could be out for some revenge.