Reds trading Gavin Lux makes one free agent reunion impossible to ignore

The Cincinnati Reds were involved in a three-team trade on Thursday night that sent utility infielder Gavin Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays. Lux's presence on the roster always felt redundant, and most Reds fans assumed it was only a matter of time before Cincinnati's front office found a taker.

Without Lux, rookie Sal Stewart now has a clear path to more playing time heading into the 2026 season, but there's still a hole in the Reds lineup. Cincinnati has been trying to find one more bat this offseason, but payroll restrictions have kept the Reds from finding the perfect fit.

After clearing Lux's $5.525 million off the books and taking back $2.3 million in salary with the acquisition of Brock Burke, the Reds now have an extra $3.2 million to spare. Cincinnati may have cleared enough space to bring back Austin Hays on a one-year deal, and it's a move the Reds should definitely consider.

Reds trading Gavin Lux could signal Austin Hays' return to Cincinnati

The Reds signed Hays to a one-year, $5 million deal last January. He battled through a troublesome kidney infection in 2024 that lessened his impact, and Cincinnati was banking on him returning to the All-Star player he was in 2023.

Hays was a force in the middle of the Reds lineup last season, hitting .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, and a 105 OPS+. But three separate stints on the injured list limited his effectiveness and oftentimes had the Reds scrambling to fill his spot in the batting order.

But with the presence of Stewart and the additions of JJ Bleday and Dane Myers, Cincinnati's roster is much deeper than it was entering last season. Adding Hays would lengthen the Reds' lineup, provide a measure of protection for Elly De La Cruz, and allow manager Terry Francona to exploit various pitching matchups from game to game.

If the Reds insist on keeping their payroll at or under last year's number, then they have approximately $7 million left to spend this offseason. Cincinnati could probably bring back Hays on a one-year deal worth about $6 million that includes a mutual or player-option for 2027.

There are bigger and better bats still available, but with limited financial resources, re-signing Hays represents one of the most prudent moves the Reds could make.