This Reds slugger has quietly become an offseason non-negotiable

When healthy — and that's key — Austin Hays has been a difference maker in the Cincinnati Reds lineup. Hays was signed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal this past offseason and has proven to be worth every penny during his first season with the Reds.

Hays will become a free agent following this season, and while there's certainly some risk considering his multiple stints on the IL, the Reds must do everything in their power to re-sign the slugger to a free agent deal this coming offseason.

Hays bet on himself this past winter and signed a one-year pact with the Reds. Batting cleanup behind Elly De La Cruz has provided plenty of opportunities for the 29-year-old this season, and given Cincinnati's lack of outfield depth in the minor leagues, the Reds cannot afford to lose Hays' bat this offseason.

Reds outfielder Austin Hays has quietly become an offseason non-negotiable

This isn't a one-off for Hays. During the 2023 season with the Baltimore Orioles, Hays hit .275/.325/.444 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI en route to his first All-Star Game appearance. From 2021-2023, Hays hit a combined .261/.313/.439 with 54 homers and nearly 200 runs batted in.

If you're looking for a comparable free agent deal from last season, the three-year, $42 million deal Jurickson Profar signed with the Atlanta Braves probably represents the ceiling for Hays. Profar's 80-game suspension for PED use has since made that deal look rather lousy, but the former San Diego Padres' left fielder had an outstanding season in 2024.

Considering, however, the Reds signed Jeimer Candelario to a three-year, $45 million deal following a three-year stretch where he hit .249/.324/.429 while playing for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubsm and Washington Nationals, the Profar deal could be a good comp for Hays if he finishes his 2025 on a high note.

Long-term deals for veteran players like Hays, especially those with an injury history, can be scary for Reds fans. After watching Cincinnati hand out big-money checks to players like Candelario, Mike Moustakas, and Shogo Akiyama, Reds fans are rightfully leary of these types of contracts.

But the Reds don't have any player in the minor leagues who can step right in next season and take Hays' spot in the everyday lineup. Provided Hays finishes the 2025 without any further trips to the IL, retaining his services in 2026 need to take priority this winter.

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