The Reds have agreed to a one-year, $5M take care of outfielder Austin Hays, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. He can earn one other $1M by way of incentives. The MAS+ consumer’s deal remains to be pending the completion of a bodily.
Hays, 29, provides 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 enjoying all three outfield spots — although he’s typically higher fitted to nook work than middle subject.
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, throughout which he was traded to the Phillies, was an abject nightmare for Hays. He struggled immensely on the sector, because of a pair of leg accidents (hamstring pressure, calf pressure) and, way more regarding, a kidney an infection. As Rosenthal detailed earlier in the offseason, Hays described that kidney an infection as “the toughest factor I’ve ever gone via.” Upon discovering it, docs instructed him he’d seemingly been affected by the unwell results of that an infection for weeks prior.
Hays instructed Rosenthal that his signs included nausea, lightheadedness, decrease again ache, sluggish legs and even a “mind fog” that may at instances trigger him to lose focus and overlook what he was speaking about mid-conversation. Hays initially chalked among 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 might properly be a boon to the Cincinnati outfield, notably if he’s in line to face a big slate of left-handed pitching.
Hays’ presence in Cincinnati might 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 additional readability to the infield, nonetheless. There’s nonetheless some enjoying time to type out this spring, however Steer might 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 a lot of the yr because of wrist surgical procedure. Matt McLain (who missed a lot of the season because 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 might additionally see time at second base and in left subject. Broadly talking, the Reds’ lineup will function fairly just a few shifting elements for brand new skipper Terry Francona to juggle based mostly on matchups, well being and workload administration.
Hays’ $5M assure will push the Reds’ payroll simply north of $110M, marking a rise of about $10M over their 2024 funds. Even a rise of that degree seemed questionable simply weeks in the past, however the workforce’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 further sources to additional construct out the 2025 membership. The Reds have additionally been tied to aid upgrades, Carlos Estevez most notably, however it’s not clear whether or not possession’s budgetary preferences can accommodate each Hays and one other bullpen arm — notably one among Estevez’s caliber and certain asking value.
