Ke'Bryan Hayes trade solves one major issue for Reds, but exacerbates another

In a trade deadline twist that few saw coming, the Cincinnati Reds pulled off a divisional stunner. They landed third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for veteran reliever Taylor Rogers and shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura, the club’s No. 9 ranked farmhand. On the surface, it’s a really good move. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a puzzling contradiction at the heart of it.

The Reds undeniably solved a problem, just not the one most people expected them to prioritize. Cincinnati’s left side of the infield has been a defensive headache for years. Hayes, a former Gold Glove winner with five years of team control left on his deal, changes that narrative in an instant.

Hayes' addition stabilizes third base long-term and adds elite defense to a team that badly needed it. And considering the price, just a reliever and a mid-tier prospect — it’s hard not to be impressed by the value.

Ke’Bryan Hayes shores up Reds infield, but raises more questions than answers

But where’s the offense? For months now, Reds fans and analysts alike have pointed to the club’s need for more pop at the plate. Cincinnati ranks 20th in home runs, 16th in batting average, and 24th in wRC+. That’s not going to cut it for a team with playoff aspirations, especially in a division that’s still up for grabs.

Hayes, for all his defensive brilliance, doesn’t move the needle offensively. He’s a glove-first infielder who’s only topped double-digit home runs once in his six-year MLB career back in 2023, when he hit 15 and took home the Gold Glove. Since then, the bat has gone cold.

This season has been especially rough. Hayes is slashing just .236/.279/.290 with two home runs and 36 RBI, numbers that would barely stand out on a rebuilding team, let alone one trying to make a postseason run. In football, the old adage says defense wins championships. But in baseball, defense alone doesn’t score runs. And while Hayes might save a few, he probably won’t generate many either.

There’s also the shadow of what might have been. The Reds were long linked to Eugenio Suárez, another familiar face and former fan favorite — who at least offered a lot more thump. So the fact that Cincinnati pivoted away from that reunion makes you wonder what absurd price Arizona was asking in return.

Still, this isn’t a loss. Not even close. The Reds improved their infield defense dramatically and did so without surrendering any of their top-tier prospects or everyday contributors. Hayes gives them a long-term anchor at third base, and if there’s any confidence in their hitting development, maybe there’s still something to unlock in that bat.

But this can’t be the last move. If the Reds are serious about contending, not just sneaking into the postseason, but doing damage once they get there — they’ll need more than a defensive upgrade. They’ll need a bat. A real one. Someone who can hit in the middle of the order and change games with one swing. Because as it stands, they’ve addressed a need. Just not the need.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors