Austin Hays DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal on Tuesday with free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, according to a source briefed on the discussions. The deal is pending a physical and includes $1 million in incentives. The former third-rounder of the Baltimore Orioles in 2016 out of Jacksonville University was in a platoon role with the O's in 2024 before being dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies. The 29-year-old struggled in his time with Philly and also dealt with a kidney infection last September. It could help explain why Hays hit only .255/.303/.396 with just five home runs in 85 combined games with the Phils and O's after he was a first-time All-Star in 2023. He hit .256 with a .672 OPS in 22 games for Philly, but he was an above-average offensive player before last season. The Reds will be hoping he can rebound and at least fill the short side of an outfield platoon against left-handed pitching.

Outfielder Austin Hays was informed that he was non-tendered on Friday by the Philadelphia Phillies, making him a free agent. It was a tough year for Hays, who battled a kidney infection after being dealt to the Phillies from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline in the summer. The 29-year-old should attract plenty of interest on the open market this offseason, as he's just a year removed from being an All-Star and Gold Glove finalist. The former third-round pick of the O's in 2016 out of Jacksonville University hit a combined .255/.303/.396 with a below-average .699 OPS, only five home runs, 20 RBI, two steals and 26 runs scored in 85 games with Baltimore and Philly. With better health in 2025, Hays could most certainly carve out a starting role with another team if he lands in the right situation.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Austin Hays is not in the team's starting lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday versus the division-rival New York Mets at Citi Field. With Hays on the bench in this must-win game for the Phillies, Weston Wilson will get the nod in left field and will bat out of the eight-hole against Mets left-hander Jose Quintana. Wilson should probably be avoided in DFS lineups down in the eight-hole, especially since he's gone hitless with two strikeouts in six career at-bats versus the veteran southpaw Quintana. Hays will retreat to the bench after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the Game 3 loss on Tuesday. Wilson, 30, hit a nice .284 (25-for-88) during the regular season, but it came with only three long balls, 10 RBI and three steals. He didn't see a plate appearance in the first three games of the series.