The White Sox made it official on Sunday: Austin Hays is headed to the South Side.
The 30-year-old outfielder joins Chicago on a one-year deal worth $6 million, with a mutual option for 2027 that includes a $1 million buyout. He’ll earn $5 million in base salary this season, with another $375,000 available through incentives tied to plate appearances. The deal becomes official once Hays passes his physical, and with the Sox's 40-man roster currently full, a corresponding move will be needed to clear space.
For Hays, this move checks a key box: playing time. After a winter of fielding interest from a wide range of teams - including the Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Rangers, and earlier reports tying him to the Royals, Reds, Mets, Yankees, Cardinals, and Guardians - it became clear that Hays was prioritizing a situation where he could get regular at-bats.
That opportunity didn’t materialize in Cleveland, where the Guardians were hesitant to block their rising crop of young outfielders. But on the South Side, Hays walks into a wide-open outfield situation with plenty of reps to go around.
Expect him to slot into a corner outfield spot - likely right field - but there’s flexibility here. If the White Sox decide to scale back Andrew Benintendi’s playing time or shift things around, Hays could also see time in left. There’s also a chance he gets some designated hitter at-bats, especially as the team looks to manage his workload and keep him healthy.
That’s been the biggest challenge for Hays over the past two seasons: staying on the field. He’s landed on the injured list six times since the start of 2024, with recurring issues in his left calf and hamstring, plus a foot contusion that cost him a few weeks last year. While he’s logged over 480 career innings in center field, he hasn’t played the position since 2023, and at this point, he's better suited for a corner spot where his glove and arm can still add value without the same physical toll.
When healthy, Hays has been a solid contributor. Last season with the Reds, he posted a .266/.315/.453 slash line with 15 home runs across 416 plate appearances - good for a 105 wRC+. That was the third-best mark on a Reds team that struggled to generate consistent offense, and a notable bounce-back after a kidney infection derailed much of his 2024 season, including a tough stint with the Phillies following a midseason trade.
Over the past five seasons, Hays has quietly put together a respectable track record. Since Opening Day 2021, he’s logged a 106 wRC+ across 2,348 plate appearances, serving as a near-everyday player for the Orioles from 2021 through 2023.
While he’s never been a high-walk guy or a consistent source of hard contact, his bat has remained serviceable - especially against left-handed pitching. In fact, over the last two seasons, Hays has crushed lefties to the tune of a 160 wRC+, making him a potential weapon in a platoon role or as a deadline trade chip for a team looking to add a right-handed bat.
That trade potential is worth noting. The White Sox are still in the midst of a rebuild, and while they’ve taken steps toward being more competitive in 2026, this isn’t a team expected to make a serious playoff push just yet. Hays could serve as a bridge - a veteran presence who helps stabilize the outfield now, and potentially nets a prospect return in July if he performs and stays healthy.
The Hays signing continues a quietly strategic offseason for the White Sox. After trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets and clearing $20 million in payroll, they reinvested $20 million into a two-year deal for reliever Seranthony Dominguez, who’s expected to take over as the club’s closer. With only $8 million of that hitting the 2026 books, Chicago had room to bring in Hays and still has some financial flexibility - potentially around $6 million - to make another move, likely on the pitching side, where the rotation and bullpen still need help.
For now, the Sox get a proven big leaguer in Hays who brings experience, versatility, and a bat that can still do damage - especially when matched up correctly. It’s not a blockbuster signing, but it’s a smart, low-risk move for a team that’s trying to take a step forward without losing sight of the bigger rebuild picture.