PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies needed a right-handed bat to pound left-handed pitching this summer, so in July they shipped Seranthony Domínguez to the Orioles for outfielder Austin Hays.

But Hays didn’t help, and his Phillies’ career ended on Friday when they non-tendered him before the 8 p.m. ET deadline, making him a free agent.

Catcher Garrett Stubbs and right-hander Jose Ruiz each agreed to one-year contracts before the deadline, avoiding salary arbitration. Infielders Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa and Bryson Stott, outfielder Brandon Marsh and left-hander Ranger Suárez were tendered contracts as expected. The Phillies have until Jan. 9 to reach agreements with them. If agreements aren’t reached, they will exchange arbitration figures for potential hearings in Spring Training.

Hays’ departure wasn’t a surprise. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski hinted several times since the end of the season that he would not return, frequently mentioning Nick Castellanos and Marsh as being part of the 2025 outfield plans – although either could be traded if the right deal comes along. Dombrowski mentioned Johan Rojas, too, albeit with the caveat that he will need to earn a spot in the spring.

The Phillies touted Hays as a former All-Star-starting outfielder and everyday player when they acquired him. But he strained his left hamstring shortly after he joined the team, then he missed several weeks because of a kidney infection. The infection sapped him of his strength and speed. He never returned to form.

He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Games 2 and 3 of the NL Division Series. He did not start Game 4 against Mets left-hander José Quintana, who was exactly the type of pitcher they imagined him mashing when they got him.

With the season on the line, the Phils turned to Weston Wilson in left field.

Hays, 29, batted .256 with two home runs, six RBIs and a .672 OPS in 22 games with the Phillies. He was projected to make more than $6 million in arbitration, which was too much for somebody who might’ve only been a part-time player.

Castellanos is ticketed for right field next year. Marsh and Rojas could platoon in center. Prospect Justin Crawford could be promoted at some point. But how do the Phillies upgrade the lineup with a more productive hitter in the outfield? The Phillies would love to find somebody who puts the ball in play on a more consistent basis.

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They are interested in Juan Soto, but they do not expect to sign him. Phillies managing partner John Middleton said at Penn recently that “I’m afraid Juan Soto wants to be in New York, and I don’t mind being a stalking horse … but I get the feeling, we’ll probably say, you know what, we’ll probably not win this.”

Other free agent outfielders include Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander, Max Kepler, Tyler O’Neill, Jurickson Profar and Michael Conforto. Each has flaws. Hernández and Santander have power, but they strike out a lot. Kepler has struggled the past few years. O’Neill is injury prone and strikes out a lot. Profar had a breakout season with the Padres, but he had a .702 OPS the previous four seasons.

The Phils could find help in a trade, but it will cost a lot to get a good player that checks the Phillies’ boxes.