The Reds have agreed to a one-year, $5MM take care of outfielder Austin Hays, stories Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. He can earn one other $1MM by way of incentives. The MAS+ consumer’s deal continues to be pending the completion of a bodily.
Hays, 29, offers the Reds the right-handed-hitting complement they’ve been in search of for the lefty-swinging outfield group of TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley and Will Benson. He’s a profession .277/.331/.469 hitter towards left-handed pitching and has expertise enjoying all three outfield spots — although he’s usually higher suited to nook work than middle subject.
As not too long ago as 2023, Hays was an All-Star in Baltimore. He had a down displaying within the second half after a monster .314/.355/.498 first half of that season however nonetheless completed out the yr with a hearty .275/.325/.444 batting line in 566 plate appearances.
The 2024 season, nevertheless, was an abject nightmare for Hays. He struggled immensely on the sector, resulting from a pair of leg accidents (hamstring pressure, calf pressure) and, way more regarding, a kidney an infection. As Rosenthal detailed earlier within the offseason, Hays described that kidney an infection as “the toughest factor I’ve ever gone by way of.” Upon discovering it, docs advised him he’d doubtless been affected by the sick results of that an infection for weeks prior.
Hays advised Rosenthal that his signs included nausea, lightheadedness, decrease again ache, sluggish legs and even a “mind fog” that might at occasions trigger him to lose focus and overlook what he was speaking about mid-conversation. Hays initially chalked a few of the exhaustion, leg fatigue and again ache as much as the trials of a full season and the prior hamstring/calf strains nonetheless impacting him. As time wore on and his signs elevated, it turned clear one thing else was at play.
A wholesome Hays may nicely be a boon to the Cincinnati outfield, significantly if he’s in line to face a big slate of left-handed pitching. The transfer from Baltimore to Cincinnati ought to favor him significantly, too. Camden Yards has develop into a wasteland for right-handed energy hitters in recent times, following the workforce’s resolution to change the size in left subject. Since 2022, when the O’s initially altered their park and put in a towering wall in left subject (also known as “Mount Wall-timore”), their stadium has been the third-worst in MLB for right-handed house runs, per Statcast, main solely Cleveland’s Progressive Discipline and Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. Cincinnati’s Nice American Ball Park, in the meantime, ranks because the third most-favorable park in MLB for right-handed house runs, by those self same park components.
Hays’ presence in Cincinnati may open up some extra infield and/or DH at-bats for fellow righty Spencer Steer, who performed primarily within the outfield final yr. Steer is an infielder by commerce, however his versatility was leveraged when the Reds’ infield turned more and more crowded.
The commerce of Jonathan India and overwhelming struggles of Noelvi Marte final yr have maybe lent some further readability to the infield, nevertheless. There’s nonetheless some enjoying time to type out this spring, however Steer may see time on the corners and DH alongside Jeimer Candelario, who additionally struggled in an injury-marred 2024 season, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who missed many of the yr resulting from wrist surgical procedure. Matt McLain (who missed many of the season resulting from shoulder surgical procedure) and Elly De La Cruz are in line to function the first second baseman and shortstop, respectively. Commerce acquisition Gavin Lux may additionally see time at second base and in left subject. Broadly talking, the Reds’ lineup will characteristic fairly a number of shifting elements for brand new skipper Terry Francona to juggle primarily based on matchups, well being and workload administration.
Hays’ $5MM assure will push the Reds’ payroll simply north of $110MM, marking a rise of about $10MM over their 2024 funds. Even a rise of that degree appeared questionable simply weeks in the past, however the workforce’s shock settlement with Foremost Road Sports activities/FanDuel Sports activities Community (the rebranded Diamond Sports activities/Bally RSN supplier) afforded president of baseball operations Nick Krall some further assets to additional construct out the 2025 membership. The Reds have additionally been tied to aid upgrades, Carlos Estevez most notably, but it surely’s not clear whether or not possession’s budgetary preferences can accommodate each Hays and one other bullpen arm — significantly considered one of Estevez’s caliber and sure asking value.
