The White Sox made it official on Sunday: Austin Hays is headed to the South Side. The veteran outfielder signed a one-year deal worth $6 million, with a mutual option for 2027 that carries an $8 million price tag and a $1 million buyout.
There’s also $375,000 in incentives tied to plate appearances. To finalize the move, Chicago will need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, but the transaction signals a clear direction-this team is looking to get more competitive in 2026, even as the long-term rebuild continues.
Hays, 30, brings a steady veteran presence to a White Sox outfield that’s still sorting itself out. After drawing offseason interest from a handful of clubs-including the Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Rangers, Royals, Mets, Yankees, and Cardinals-Hays ultimately chose Chicago, in large part because of the opportunity for consistent playing time.
The Guardians reportedly kicked the tires but weren’t ready to block their younger outfielders. The White Sox, on the other hand, have innings and at-bats to offer-and Hays is ready to take them.
Expect him to see plenty of time in right field, though he could also spell Andrew Benintendi in left depending on how the Sox manage their rotation of outfielders. The current mix includes Brooks Baldwin, Derek Hill, Tristan Peters, Everson Pereira, and Jarred Kelenic, while Luisangel Acuña figures to get regular reps in center.
That’s a group with upside, but not a lot of certainty. Hays, with his experience and versatility, helps stabilize things.
Defensively, Hays has logged over 480 big-league innings in center field, but he hasn’t played the position since 2023. At this stage, with his recent injury history, he’s probably best suited for a corner spot-and maybe even some DH work to keep him fresh.
Over the last two seasons, he’s made six trips to the injured list, mostly due to lower-body issues like calf and hamstring strains. A left foot contusion also cost him time last year.
Still, when healthy, Hays has been productive. In 2025, he posted a .266/.315/.453 slash line with 15 home runs over 416 plate appearances for the Reds.
That came after a rocky 2024 season derailed by a kidney infection and a midseason trade to the Phillies. But last year, he bounced back, delivering a 105 wRC+-third-best among Reds hitters with at least 111 plate appearances.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was solid, and on a team that struggled to score, that kind of steady production mattered.
Since the start of the 2021 season, Hays owns a 106 wRC+ across 2,348 plate appearances. He was an everyday player for the Orioles from 2021 to 2023, and while he’s never been known for elite walk rates or hard contact, he’s consistently held his own at the plate.
One thing to watch: his strikeout rate has crept up in recent years, and his ability to handle right-handed pitching will be key if he’s going to stick in a full-time role. Lately, he’s looked more like a lefty-masher, and the numbers back that up-he’s posted a 160 wRC+ against lefties over the past two seasons.
There’s also a strategic layer to this deal. While Hays fills a need for the Sox now, he could become a valuable trade chip by the deadline.
If he’s healthy and hitting, especially against left-handed pitching, contenders will come calling. For a rebuilding White Sox team, that kind of flexibility is gold.
They’re not just thinking about Opening Day-they’re thinking about how to maximize assets by July.
This signing follows another notable move from Chicago: the Luis Robert Jr. trade to the Mets, which cleared $20 million off the books. The Sox quickly reinvested $20 million over two years in Seranthony Domínguez, who’s expected to take over as closer. Domínguez will make $8 million in 2026, leaving the Sox with enough room to bring in Hays and still have about $6 million in budget space to address other needs-most likely on the pitching side, where both the rotation and bullpen could use reinforcements.
The bottom line? The White Sox aren’t all-in just yet, but they’re laying the groundwork.
Adding a veteran like Hays-who can contribute now and potentially net value later-is a smart, forward-thinking move. It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s the kind of signing that helps bridge the gap between rebuilding and competing.