Reds appear determined to make their Ke'Bryan Hayes mistake work

The Cincinnati Reds made a somewhat questionable roster move before the team's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. Ke'Bryan Hayes, who'd been battling a groin injury for almost two weeks, was activated from the 10-day IL and rookie infielder Edwin Arroyo was optioned back to Triple-A Louisville.

The move itself was a tad surprising. Though Arroyo was just 1-for-18 since his return to the big leagues, most fans and observers assumed the Reds would give him a bit of a longer leash at this stage of the season with Cincinnati's playoff hopes all but evaporated.

Furthermore, Hayes missed 12 straight days while on the IL, and though it's not uncommon for a rehab assignment to be skipped in these types of situations, it certainly wouldn't hurt the Reds third baseman to put in some extra work in the minor leagues.

On the year, Hayes is hitting just .151/.210/.246 with a 24 wRC+, and while his production during the month of August was an improvement (.191/.269/.319 with a 63 wRC+), it's still nowhere near acceptable.

Hayes' two miscues on Monday against the Dodgers didn't help his case. His errant throw during the bottom of the fifth inning allowed two runs to score. Another error during the bottom of the eighth inning allowed Tommy Edman to reach safely, and LA eventually tacked on another run.

Most Reds fans would prefer to see the organization simply cut their losses and release Hayes. Whehter it's now or sometime during the offseason, the overwhelming majority of fans throughout the Queen City have no desire to see Hayes in a Reds uniform next season. Sadly, Monday's roster move is a sign that Cincinnati's brass might not be able to let go just yet.

Reds roster move is a sign their not done with Ke'Bryan Hayes (yet)

If the Reds had no intention of bringing Hayes in 2027, they could've slow-played his return from the IL and just kept him out of action through the end of the season. Instead, they pushed his would-be replacement at third base (Arroyo) back to the minor leagues, and immediately inserted him into the starting lineup on Monday night.

The Reds have little reason — outside of $22 million remaining Hayes' contract — to keep him on the roster. Unfortunately, that's a lot of money for a small-market organization like the Reds to just cast aside. Cincinnati traded for Hayes just over a year ago, and if this latest roster move is any indication, it would seem they're unwilling (at least right now) to admit their mistake.

Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall is said to be on the hot seat, and his decision to trade for Hayes at last year's deadline may well be his ultimate undoing. Activating the two-time Gold Glove Award-winner on Monday felt like little more than a last-ditch effort to salavage what will go down as one of the worst trades in Reds' history.

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