The Cincinnati Reds came into this offseason with a clear need: more thump in the middle of the lineup. They made a modest move early, scooping up left-handed hitting outfielder JJ Bleday after he was designated for assignment by the A’s.
But that move felt like just one half of the equation. Pairing Bleday with a right-handed bat like Austin Hays always made a lot of sense-at least on paper.
Now, that potential reunion is looking increasingly unlikely.
On Tuesday, reports surfaced that Hays is drawing interest from some of the biggest names in the game. According to Jon Heyman, both the New York Yankees and New York Mets are in the mix for the former Reds outfielder.
The St. Louis Cardinals are also reportedly lurking, but the real story here is the New York tug-of-war.
Right now, both the Yankees and Mets are locked in a high-stakes pursuit of Cody Bellinger. But Bellinger remains unsigned, and if one of those teams misses out, Hays could quickly become Plan B. That kind of attention from deep-pocketed contenders puts the Reds in a tough spot.
Let’s be honest-if both New York teams are involved, Cincinnati likely won’t win that bidding war. The Reds signed Hays to a one-year, $5 million deal last offseason, but opted not to pick up his $12 million option heading into 2026.
That decision wasn’t necessarily a mistake-$12 million is a steep price for a player who missed significant time-but it did leave the door open for a possible return on a more team-friendly deal. Now, that door might be closing.
Injuries were the story of Hays’ 2025 season. He landed on the injured list three separate times, which is never ideal for a team trying to build consistency.
But when he was on the field, Hays made a real impact. In 103 games, he posted a .266/.315/.453 slash line with 15 homers and 64 RBIs.
That’s solid production, especially for a Reds lineup that lacked depth and needed more right-handed power.
The Reds trading away Gavin Lux last week only added to the urgency. That move freed up a spot and made the idea of bringing Hays back even more appealing. But with the Yankees and Mets circling, it’s starting to feel like Cincinnati may have missed their window.
So where does that leave the Reds? With the free-agent market thinning out, their best chance to upgrade the lineup might come via trade.
There’s still time before pitchers and catchers report, but the clock is ticking. This team needs at least one more bat to feel complete heading into spring training, and so far, they’ve come up empty.
The Reds have shown they’re willing to make moves around the margins. But if they want to take a real step forward in 2026, they’ll need to do more than just patch holes. The lineup needs firepower, and the options are dwindling fast.