The New York Yankees are showing interest in free agent left fielder Austin Hayes, especially if they are unable to secure their primary target, Cody Bellinger, as they explore options in the market, according to a report by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Additionally, the Mets and Kansas City Royals have also been linked to the 30-year-old Hayes.
Last season, Hayes played 103 games with the Cincinnati Reds, posting a .266 batting average, a .315 on-base percentage, and a .453 slugging percentage, along with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs. In January, the Reds signed Hayes to a one-year, $5 million contract with a mutual option for $12 million for the 2026 season, but he became a free agent after Cincinnati declined that option in November, resulting in a $1 million buyout for him.
In 2024, Hayes split his time between the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies, after Philadelphia acquired him from Baltimore before the trade deadline. Across 85 games with both teams, Hayes hit .255/.303/.396 with 5 home runs and 20 RBIs. His season was limited to 22 games with the Phillies due to a kidney infection, and he was non-tendered, becoming a free agent in November.
Hayes was an All-Star for the Orioles in 2023, boasting a .275/.325/.444 line with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs. He made his MLB debut on September 7, 2017, against the Yankees and appeared in 74 games from 2017 to 2020. Over the 2021-2023 seasons, Hayes played 420 games, hitting .261/.313/.439 with 54 home runs and 198 RBIs. He was originally drafted by the Orioles with the 91st overall pick in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft from Jacksonville University.
Fan Take: This potential move by the Yankees could shake up the left-field market and add depth to a key lineup position, making the AL East race even more thrilling. For baseball fans, Hayes represents a solid, versatile player who could have a significant impact on whichever team he joins next season.
