The San Diego Padres made a blockbuster trade in July 2018 to acquire star player Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles. In exchange, the Orioles received five prospects, including outfielder Austin Hays.
At the time of the trade, Hays was considered one of the Orioles’ top prospects and was expected to eventually become a key player for the team. However, injuries and inconsistent performance prevented him from making a significant impact in the majors.
Meanwhile, Machado provided an immediate boost to the Padres’ lineup and helped the team reach the playoffs in 2020. Despite some off-the-field controversies, he has been a productive player for the Padres and has become a fan favorite in San Diego.
Looking back on the trade, some Orioles fans may wonder if the team made the right decision in trading away a top prospect for a player who would only be with the team for a short time. However, others argue that the trade was necessary for the Orioles to rebuild and acquire young talent.
As for Hays, he was recently traded back to the Padres as part of a larger deal that included several other players. While it remains to be seen if Hays will finally live up to his potential in San Diego, the team believes that he has the talent to become a key contributor in the future.
Overall, the Machado trade and Hays’ departure from the Orioles serve as reminders of the difficult decisions teams must make in order to rebuild and compete in the long term. While the immediate impact of trading away a top prospect can be difficult to accept, it is often necessary in order to acquire the talent needed to build a winning team.
