The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with veteran outfielder Austin Hays, pending a physical, according to multiple reports. The 30-year-old, who spent 2025 with the Cincinnati Reds, brings postseason experience and strong performance against left-handed pitching to the team. The deal includes incentives and a mutual option for 2027 with a $1 million buyout.
The Chicago White Sox bolstered their outfield Saturday by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal worth $6 million with free agent Austin Hays, as reported by ESPN's Jesse Rogers and MLB Network's Jon Heyman. The contract, which also features $375,000 in performance incentives based on plate appearances, awaits Hays' physical and a corresponding roster move since the White Sox's 40-man roster is full. A source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand of the agreement earlier that morning, though the club has not yet confirmed it.
Hays, 30, played 103 games for the Reds in 2025 after signing a one-year, $5 million deal with them the previous offseason. He slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs—his fourth such season in five years—and 36 extra-base hits over 416 plate appearances, posting a .768 OPS that ranked second among Reds qualifiers with at least 200 plate appearances. His 105 wRC+ was the third-best on the team among players with 111 or more trips to the plate. However, injuries limited him to 103 games, following 85 in 2024 marred by calf and hamstring strains, a kidney infection, and a foot contusion—six injured list stints across the last two seasons.
A former Baltimore Orioles third-round pick in 2016, Hays debuted in 2017 and earned an All-Star nod in 2023. He has appeared in the postseason each of the last three years with three different teams: Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies (22 games in 2024 after a trade), and Reds. Hays excels against fastballs (.337 average, .709 slugging in 95 plate appearances ending in four-seamers) and sinkers (.353 average, .632 slugging in 71), with a right arm in the 88th percentile for strength. He struggled versus sliders, sweepers, and curveballs, striking out in nearly one-third of such at-bats. Since Opening Day 2021, he has a 106 wRC+ over 2,348 plate appearances and a 160 wRC+ against lefties in the last two seasons.
Interest in Hays came from teams including the White Sox, Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Rangers, Royals, Reds, Mets, Yankees, Cardinals, and Guardians. He prioritized everyday playing time, positioning him for semi-regular duty in right field with Chicago, potentially left depending on Andrew Benintendi's role. The signing follows the White Sox trading Luis Robert Jr., freeing $20 million in payroll, part of which funded a two-year, $20 million deal for reliever Seranthony Dominguez.
