Austin Hays finally signs with higher-spending Reds

[caulfield12]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/reds-sign-austin-hays.html

$5 million guaranteed plus another $1 million in incentives

 

Would MUCH rather have the possible upside/trade value of this deal than ANY of Tauchman Slater Rojas or Martin Perez.

Wasn't a crazy amount of money, either.  And only a one year gamble. Not even sure Getz would or should be considering two year deals right now.

 

Cincy with HoF-track manager Francona likely becomes the three way com favorite now for first in the Central with the Cubs and Brewers...

Edited January 28 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

So that's what "a little bit" of payroll flexibility buys in baseball these days.

Two weeks after a renegotiated local TV deal resulted in a bump in payroll, the Cincinnati Reds agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year, $5 million deal, pending a physical, a source confirmed Tuesday.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2025/01/28/reds-news-free-agent-signing-outfielder-austin-hays/77997987007/

Will have to pass physical on hanstring as well as calf and then serious kidney infection/complications.

Edited January 28 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

"After further negotiations (between FanDuel Sports and the Reds), the sides reached an agreement for 2025 that includes both linear and digital streaming rights and replaces the Reds-MLB arrangement. The streaming rights had not been included in the previous (existing) Bally contract.

Team officials say the new agreement represents a "slight" increase in revenue over what was anticipated going with the MLB broadcast plan and presumably over FanDuel's last offer in November."

 

So it clearly seems the best deals for most clubs are NOT there going with the MLB-produced and distributed broadcasts...MN Twins made similar decision/agreement recently.

Edited January 28 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

https://www.mlb.com/news/austin-hays-reds-contract

The other problem with White Sox would be Hays is NOT a RFer.

So he's either a DH/1B (pushing out Vaughn or moving him to DH/platoon) or you're making Benintendi your primary DH with Hays instead in LF.

Of course that's ALSO where someone like Vargas or Ramos might end up getting at-bats, Baldwin too.

In an ideal world...Baldwin is able to handle CF over Fletcher if he's not basically your utility infielder, which is the role that Josh Rojas has now seemingly pushed him out of.