Austin Hays Fantasy Stats

Free-agent outfielder Austin Hays and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a one-year, $6 million contract on Saturday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. Hays should have a regular path to playing time in Chicago in 2026, especially after the team traded Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets this offseason. The 30-year-old is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2025 with the Cincinnati Reds, when he slashed .266/.315/.453 with a .768 OPS, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and a career-high seven stolen bases in 103 games and 416 plate appearances. Hays went on the injured list three separate times with calf, hamstring, and foot injuries, and he also missed some time in the final month with back spasms. Chicago is a good landing spot as far as playing time goes, and he should hit in the middle of the order, but durability is an issue for an outfielder with moderate power.

Free-agent outfielder Austin Hays has several suitors in the open market, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman noted that the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals have also expressed interest in the veteran outfielder. However, with the Mets trading for outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday evening, they may not continue their pursuit of Hays. The Yankees have been linked to star outfielder Cody Bellinger throughout the winter but have yet to come to an agreement. Hays spent the 2025 season with the Reds and held a .255/.325/.453 line with 15 home runs and seven stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a below-average .300 xwOBA with a modest 38.4% hard-hit rate, suggesting he could face some regression in 2026. Hays projects to hold a platoon role in 2026, making him best left for deeper fantasy formats.

The New York Mets are showing interest in free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Hays, 30, slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 416 plate appearances in 2025. Hays has posted a 105 wRC+ or better in five of his last seven seasons. The right-handed hitter's biggest flaw has been his inability to stay on the field. Over the past two seasons, he's dealt with multiple hamstring and calf injuries and finished last year on the bench due to back spasms. Right now, the Mets have their No. 2 prospect, Carson Benge, penciled in as the starting left fielder. With that said, they need as much outfield depth as possible after losing Cedric Mullins, Starling Marte, Jesse Winker, Jose Siri, and Jose Azocar in free agency, along with trading Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. If Hays signs with the Mets, he'll be most fantasy relevant in 15-team fantasy leagues.

The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they declined the $12 million mutual option on outfielder Austin Hays for the 2026 season, making him a free agent. The team also declined the 2026 club options on right-hander Scott Barlow and left-hander Brent Suter. Hays will be given a $1 million buyout and will be free to sign with any MLB team this offseason. The 30-year-old veteran was on the injured list multiple times with various injuries in his first and only season in Cincinnati, but when he was active, he played well, slashing .266/.315/.453 with a .768 OPS, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and a career-high seven stolen bases in 416 plate appearances over 103 games played. Hays will garner attention in free agency as a platoon outfielder who is best used against left-handed pitching. He hit .319 against southpaws in 2025.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) is returning to the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's Game 1 of the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before this, Hays was held out of the final seven games of the regular season due to back spasms. It doesn't appear the issue was ever serious enough to place him on the injured list. Hays will cover left field and bat cleanup against left-hander Blake Snell. This will be his first start since September 20, so there could be some rust.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) is feeling better after dealing with back spasms the last few days, but he's not ready to return for Friday's series opener of a crucial season-ending divisional series in Milwaukee against the Brewers, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Hays has not played since leaving last Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs, but the Reds aren't close to putting him on the injured list. If the Reds put him on the IL and make the postseason, they would lose him for the playoffs. It makes things tougher for Cincy, who entered Friday one game back of the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot in the National League, since Hays has hit .301/.323/.505 with five homers and 15 RBI in 25 games since Aug. 23. He has dealt with multiple injuries in 2025 but has hit 15 home runs and 64 RBI in 102 games in his first year with the team. With Hays out this past week, the Reds have mostly been using Will Benson in left field.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) tested his injured back by running on the field on Tuesday and said it was "not great," according to MLB.com. The Reds will proceed with caution, which means there's a chance that Hays won't rejoin the lineup before the end of the regular season this Sunday. He left the game early on Sept. 20 in the fifth inning due to spasms after his back locked up on a swing. If the 30-year-old continues to sit out, the lefty-hitting Will Benson should continue to start in left field for Cincy against right-handed pitchers. Hays has been on the injured list multiple times in 2025 with various injuries in his first year with the team and has hit .266/.316/.454 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and a career-high seven stolen bases in 102 games played. He's been solid in September, going 18-for-65 (.277) with three homers, eight RBI, and a steal in 17 games.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in his team's 13-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He also notched a two-run triple -- his fourth in 35 contests. The 29-year-old picked up his first multi-hit game and homer since returning from the injured list a few days ago due to a foot injury. Hays was hitting well before sustaining the ailment, and has already collected four RBI in four appearances since rejoining the squad. Overall, he's slashing a strong .295/.336/.568 with seven long balls, seven doubles, 29 RBI, and 26 runs scored. If he can stay healthy, he'll have plenty of RBI opportunities batting from the four-hole in Cincinnati's lineup. However, it's important to note he's outproducing his .256 xBA by a good margin.

The Cincinnati Reds activated outfielder Austin Hays (foot) from the 10-day injured list on Friday, according to FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith. Hays has been an everyday player for the Reds this year when he's been healthy, and he'll step back into that role, but the team will ease him back in as the designated hitter at first for Friday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres and right-hander Dylan Cease. The 29-year-old has been out since May 29 with a left-foot contusion. Hays has had a tough time staying on the field in 2025, but when he's been active, he's been useful in mixed fantasy leagues with a .303/.346/.555 slash line, .901 OPS, six home runs, 25 RBI, 23 runs scored and two stolen bases in 119 at-bats. Outfielder Jake Fraley (shoulder) was put on the IL in a corresponding move with Hays returning.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (foot) will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Chattanooga, reports Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The plan is for him to be re-evaluated on Thursday with the potential to be activated on Friday. The 29-year-old has struggled to stay healthy this season, with his most recent IL-stint beginning on May 30 with a bone bruise in his foot. The Reds' newcomer has been great when healthy, batting .303 with six home runs in 31 games, so he's someone to target in five-outfielder leagues if you need the help.