Ke’Bryan Hayes, the 2023 Gold Glove Award recipient at third base, has steadily built a reputation as one of the premier defenders at his position in all of Major League Baseball. Now, the standout third baseman is reportedly on his way to Cincinnati, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Reds are finalizing a deal to acquire Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In exchange, the Pirates will receive veteran left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers and 20-year-old shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura. The move signals that Pittsburgh may not be done dealing as the MLB trade deadline approaches on Thursday.
Hayes, 28, is currently in his sixth major league season and is in the middle of an eight-year, \$70 million contract extension he signed with the Pirates back in 2022. That long-term deal ensures Hayes will remain under team control through the 2029 season, giving the Reds both immediate help and a potential long-term solution at third base.
Offensively, Hayes hasn’t produced eye-popping numbers this year, hitting just .236 with a .279 on-base percentage and .290 slugging through 100 games. He’s tallied two home runs and 36 RBIs on the season. However, his real value lies in his glove. Widely regarded as a defensive maestro, Hayes led all third basemen with 21 Defensive Runs Saved in 2023. According to Baseball Savant, his 36 combined Outs Above Average over the 2022 and 2023 seasons ranked second among all MLB players — regardless of position.
“Anytime he’s out there on defense, he’s going to wow you,” Pirates manager Don Kelly told MLB.com in June. “He’s unbelievable over there.”
For a Reds team that has struggled defensively on the infield at times, Hayes could be a stabilizing force. Cincinnati, as of Wednesday, sits 8.5 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central but remains firmly in the National League wild-card race, just three games back.
Adding a proven defensive talent like Hayes could provide a much-needed spark as they look to secure a postseason berth.
