Reds will soon get one more chance to make the Ke'Bryan Hayes trade work

The Cincinnati Reds traded for Ke'Bryan Hayes last summer, and so far, the results have not been pretty. Hayes has been on the injured list since May 22 after suffering a bulging disk in his back and is currently rehabbing at the team's facility in Arizona.

The latest update from Reds manager Terry Francona (via Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith) revealed that Hayes is able to swing the bat and has been working on a core stabilization program. The two-time Gold Glove Award-winner is also said to be addressing a key adjustment the Reds' hitting coaches have been wanting him to implement.

All of that is good (and necessary), but Hayes' track record is littered with failed attempts to turn him from a glove-only third baseman into an everyday player. Even before his injury, it was apparent that Hayes was either playing hurt or just plain bad.

Before landing on the IL late last month, Hayes was hitting just .142/.195/.225 with two home runs, five RBI, a 10 wRC+, and -0.9 fWAR. If Hayes were not under contract through 2029, he'd already be cast aside. As it is, Cincinnati owes him over $30 million for the next four seasons, and that will be buy him a little more time. How much time? That has yet to be determined.

Ke'Bryan Hayes' future with the Reds will be mapped out by the end of the season

Make no mistake about it, provided he's healthy, Hayes will return to the Reds roster at some point later this season. In his absence, Cincinnati has relied upon the combination of Sal Stewart and Eugenio Suárez at third base.

Whlie Stewart has held his own at the hot corner, Suárez hasn't been much better than Hayes — both in the batter's box and on the field. But Suárez is only under contract through the end of the season. Cincinnati's ultimate desire would be to have Hayes back at third base for the foreseeable future while Stewart continues to gain meaningful reps at first base.

But if Hayes, upon his return from the IL, continues to struggle offensively, the Reds will be left with an unenviable decision. Hayes may be an elite defender, but his bat cancels out any and all production his glove brings to the table.

The Reds should allow Hayes all the time he needs to get things right because this might be their last chance to salvage something from last year's trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In a way, Hayes' injury allowed Cincinnati to give him a reset away from the pressures of playing in the big leagues. Neither he, nor the Reds, can afford to squander that opportunity.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow