Jesse Rogers
The Cincinnati Reds have acquired third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates in alternate for left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers and shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura, it was introduced Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Hayes, who’s signed by way of 2029, is hitting .236 with two house runs and 36 RBIs in 369 at-bats this season for Pittsburgh, the place he has spent the whole lot of his six-year profession.
Cincinnati, chasing simply its second postseason berth since 2013, is three video games again within the race for the ultimate Nationwide League wild-card spot coming into Wednesday’s video games. The Pirates are final within the NL Central and rank close to the underside or on the backside within the majors in most vital offensive statistical classes.
“When you’re promoting, which means you are shedding,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall mentioned. “So when you’re a purchaser, you are in place to probably get to the postseason and see what occurs. So that you at all times wish to be a purchaser. That is that is crucial factor. These guys are enjoying actually exhausting proper now. You need that to proceed and to offer them assist as finest we will.”
The Reds rank twenty eighth in OPS from their third basemen this season, compiling a .620 mark. Hayes has a profession .676 OPS whereas enjoying stellar protection, successful the Gold Glove in 2023. His 16 defensive runs saved this season is eight greater than every other MLB third baseman, in response to Sports activities Information Options.
“He is likely to be one of the best defender in baseball. If not, he is proper there,” Cincinnati supervisor Terry Francona mentioned shortly after the deal was finalized. “We’re looking for methods to get higher. We care a lot about making an attempt to play clear baseball, and this might be an enormous step in that route.”
The Reds have used six totally different gamers at third this season. Noelvi Marte, who has been the first third baseman of late, will transfer to the outfield.
Hayes hasn’t progressed offensively in the identical method, together with his OPS dropping in every of the previous three seasons. It is at present at a career-low .569 this season.
“We all know the place the hitting has been and typically a change of surroundings may help,” Francona mentioned. “He appears excited and we’re excited to have him and see the place it goes.”
The son of former main leaguer Charlie Hayes, he’ll make $7 million in 2026 and 2027 and $8 million in 2028 and 2029. The Reds additionally will maintain a $12 million choice in 2030.
The Pirates have a number of inner choices to exchange Hayes within the short-term, together with Jared Triolo, who received a Gold Glove as a utility infielder in 2024. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Pittsburgh’s on a regular basis shortstop this season, moved over to 3rd for Wednesday’s recreation towards the Giants.
Rogers, 34, appeared in 40 video games for the Reds this 12 months, compiling a 2.45 ERA whereas giving up simply three house runs in 33 innings. The ten-year veteran, who was an All-Star choice with the Twins in 2021, might be a free agent after this season.
Tyler Rogers, his an identical twin brother, was traded simply hours later from the San Francisco Giants to the New York Mets. Based on ESPN Analysis, it is believed to be the third time in MLB historical past that brothers have been traded midseason on the identical day.
Stafura, 20, was with Class-A Daytona, hitting .262 with 4 house runs and 48 RBIs in 88 video games. He was a 2023 second-round decide by Cincinnati and was simply outdoors their prime 10 prospects, in response to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
The Related Press and ESPN Analysis contributed to this report.
