Report: White Sox, Hays agree to 1-year contract
The Chicago White Sox agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers.
It's a one-year contract worth $6 million plus incentives, reports The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Hays slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs in 103 games with the Cincinnati Reds last season. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Baltimore Orioles where he was an All-Star in 2023 before he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2024 deadline.
He signed with the Reds as a free agent last winter.
The 30-year-old joins a White Sox outfield that includes Andrew Benintendi, Luisangel Acuña, and Brooks Baldwin, among others.
Hays owns a career .819 OPS against left-handed pitching, making him a strong platoon option.