The Cincinnati Reds have made a significant addition to their outfield by agreeing to a one-year, $5 million contract with Austin Hays, as reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The deal also includes $1 million in incentives.
Hays split his time last season between the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies, finishing with a 101 OPS+, posting a 108 OPS+ with the Orioles and an 86 OPS+ with the Phillies, according to Baseball Reference. Hays first debuted in 2017 but returned to the Orioles in 2019, playing just 21 games. He then appeared in 33 games during the 60-game 2020 season. Over the following three seasons, he became a regular, posting OPS+ marks of 107 in 2021, 105 in 2022, and 114 in 2023. Overall, Hays has been a slightly above-average hitter throughout his career.
After struggling with the Phillies last season, Hays was diagnosed with a kidney infection in September, which had affected him for an extended period, according to Rosenthal. Despite being non-tendered by the Phillies, there is optimism that Hays can rebound in 2025 following his recovery.
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