The Reds have agreed to a one-year, $5MM cope with outfielder Austin Hays, reviews Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. He can earn one other $1MM by way of incentives. The MAS+ shopper’s deal continues to be pending the completion of a bodily.
Hays, 29, offers the Reds the right-handed-hitting complement they’ve been searching for for the lefty-swinging outfield group of TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley and Will Benson. He’s a profession .277/.331/.469 hitter in opposition to left-handed pitching and has expertise taking part in all three outfield spots — although he’s typically higher suited to nook work than middle discipline.
As lately as 2023, Hays was an All-Star in Baltimore. He had a down exhibiting 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, nonetheless, was an abject nightmare for Hays. He struggled immensely on the sector, on account of 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, medical doctors advised him he’d possible been affected by the ailing 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 will at occasions trigger him to lose focus and neglect what he was speaking about mid-conversation. Hays initially chalked a number of the exhaustion, leg fatigue and again ache as much as the pains of a full season and the prior hamstring/calf strains nonetheless impacting him. As time wore on and his signs elevated, it grew to become 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 change into a wasteland for right-handed energy hitters lately, following the crew’s choice to change the size in left discipline. Since 2022, when the O’s initially altered their park and put in a towering wall in left discipline (sometimes called “Mount Wall-timore”), their stadium has been the third-worst in MLB for right-handed dwelling runs, per Statcast, main solely Cleveland’s Progressive Subject 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 dwelling runs, by those self same park elements.
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 grew to become 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, nonetheless. There’s nonetheless some taking part in 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 on account of wrist surgical procedure. Matt McLain (who missed many of the season on account of 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 discipline. Broadly talking, the Reds’ lineup will characteristic fairly just a few shifting elements for brand spanking new skipper Terry Francona to juggle based mostly 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 price range. Even a rise of that stage regarded questionable simply weeks in the past, however the crew’s shock settlement with Fundamental Avenue Sports activities/FanDuel Sports activities Community (the rebranded Diamond Sports activities/Bally RSN supplier) afforded president of baseball operations Nick Krall some extra sources to additional construct out the 2025 membership. The Reds have additionally been tied to reduction 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 certain asking value.
