Austin Hays, a 2023 All-Star outfielder with the Orioles who has bounced around the Phillies and Reds over the last two seasons, is on the move yet again. After a free agency period that has garnered some significant interest for the 30-year-old righty, Hays will reportedly sign with the rebuilding White Sox club looking to take a step forward in ‘26.
The decision was first reported by ESPN. Terms of the deal have not yet been reported.
The report comes just minutes after it was reported that a decision was imminent, and that a number of other teams had offered or expressed interest in Hays, including the Cardinals, Cubs, Padres, Rangers, Reds and Tigers. Ultimately, it is the White Sox—who went just 60–102 a season ago—who come away with the veteran bat.
In 103 games for Cincinnati last season, Hays hit .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs, 64 RBIs and 60 runs scored. Hays has missed significant time over the last two seasons, playing just 85 total games for Baltimore and Philadelphia in ‘24.
Hays had a solid run with the Orioles earlier in the decade, posting WAR marks of 3.4, 2.9 and 2.5 from 2021 to ‘23, reaching his first All-Star Game in the final year of that stretch. Last year’s .453 slugging percentage (his best since ‘21) and 15 home runs in roughly two-thirds of a season are a good sign for his pop at the plate, and should help bolster Chicago’s lineup.
Hays slots into an outfield that recently lost centerfielder Luis Robert Jr., who was traded to the Mets earlier in the month.
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CHICAGO, February 27, 2024—The White Sox are betting on a familiar face to jumpstart their rebuild. Austin Hays, the 2023 All-Star outfielder, is reportedly headed to the South Side, according to ESPN.
Hays Heads to the Windy City as White Sox Look to 2026
The veteran outfielder will add much-needed offensive firepower to a team coming off a disappointing season.
- Austin Hays, a 30-year-old righty, will sign with the White Sox.
- Hays played for the Orioles, Phillies, and Reds over the last two seasons.
- The White Sox finished with a 60–102 record last season.
- Hays hit .266 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs in 103 games for Cincinnati in 2023.
Austin Hays is poised to become a key piece of the White Sox’s puzzle as they aim for contention in 2026.
A Bounce-Back Candidate for Chicago?
Hays, who has bounced between the Orioles, Phillies, and Reds recently, brings a proven track record to a White Sox team desperately needing offensive help. In 103 games with Cincinnati last season, he slashed .266/.315/.453, launching 15 home runs and driving in 64 runs. While injuries have limited his playing time the past two seasons—85 total games for Baltimore and Philadelphia in ‘24—his potential is undeniable.
From 2021 to 2023, Hays established himself as a valuable player with the Orioles, posting WAR marks of 3.4, 2.9, and 2.5, culminating in his first All-Star selection in 2023. His .453 slugging percentage last year, his highest since 2021, suggests he still possesses significant power at the plate.
Hays fills a void in the outfield created earlier this month when Luis Robert Jr. was traded to the Mets. The White Sox are clearly signaling their intent to add established players as they begin to rebuild.
