Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is drawing interest from multiple teams, with reporter Francys Romero listing last week that the Cubs, Tigers, and Yankees were all “potential suitors.” Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote a few days ago that Hayes was indeed “on the Yankees’ radar,” and Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Chicago and Detroit have also checked in with the Pirates about Hayes’ status.
Hayes remains one of the sport’s best defenders at any position, as he is again posting fantastic numbers (+13 Outs Above Average, +11 Defensive Runs Saved) over 710 1/3 innings at the hot corner. The 28-year-old has also played in 83 games this season and thus far stayed off the injured list, which is noteworthy given how recurring back problems have plagued Hayes for multiple years, and limited him to just 96 games in 2024.
On the down side, Hayes is still producing next to nothing at the plate. It seemed as though Hayes was turning a corner with his .762 OPS season in 2023, as even producing league-average offense along with his superb glove would’ve made Hayes a great all-around boost to Pittsburgh’s lineup. However, his bat has cratered over the last two years, as his .238/.288/.295 slash line over 721 plate appearances has resulted in a dismal 62 wRC+. Since Opening Day, Hayes has the lowest wRC+ of any player in baseball with at least 700 PA.
Another possible obstacle to a trade is the eight-year, $70MM extension Hayes signed with the Pirates in April 2022. He is still owed the remainder of his $7MM salary for 2025, $30MM over the 2026-29 seasons, and then a $6MM buyout of a $12MM club option for the 2030 campaign. As great as Hayes’ glovework is, a trade partner would be taking a risk in absorbing over $39MM for a player with a history of both back problems and lackluster offense.
Third base has been a problem area for the Cubs all season, as the team’s hope that top prospect Matt Shaw was ready for prime time hasn’t yet paid off. A month-long demotion to Triple-A resulted in a brief surge at the plate once Shaw was recalled to the majors in May, but his bat tapered off again, and Shaw is hitting only .207/.288/.293 over 222 PA. Backup options like Vidal Brujan or Jon Berti also haven’t contributed much, leaving the hot corner as a clear weak link in an otherwise very strong Chicago lineup.
Hayes’ lack of pop would be less of an issue amidst so many other strong hitters, yet Shaw is no slouch with the glove himself — he has +6 DRS, though the OAA metric has him with only a league-average 0ver 487 2/3 innings at third base. Acquiring Hayes would also block Shaw at third base over an extended period of time, whereas just picking up a rental third baseman at the deadline would help the Cubs’ chances of winning in 2025 while still keeping Shaw in line as the third baseman of the future.
It can be argued that third base isn’t even a need position for the Tigers at all, as the position has become Zach McKinstry’s most common pathway into the lineup. McKinstry is hitting an impressive .285/.356/.456 over 307 PA, and he has gone from being a utility option to a near-everyday option for manager A.J. Hinch. The advanced metrics indicate that McKinstry is due for regression, however, and the fact that he hasn’t hit anywhere near this level in his previous five Major League seasons could leave Detroit looking for more stability at third base.
Javier Baez, Colt Keith, Jace Jung, and Andy Ibanez have all also seen time at third base for the Tigers this year, with the latter two currently in Triple-A. Baez looks to have re-established himself at shortstop and Detroit would love to see Keith find a regular spot for himself in the lineup, as his past positions of first and second base have been filled by Spencer Torkelson and Gleyber Torres. Relying on Keith for a pennant run is risky, however, so the Tigers may prefer exploring veteran third base options at the deadline.
From the Pirates’ perspective, it isn’t surprising that the club is already open to moving a player that so recently seemed like a building block. With the Buccos now approaching their seventh straight losing season, it isn’t clear if their rebuild is bearing much fruit, even with Paul Skenes’ rise to superstardom and so many other promising young arms on the way. The struggling Pirates are reportedly open to moving basically anyone besides Skenes and Andrew McCutchen, and dealing Hayes has the side benefit of moving a long-term financial commitment from the team’s books.
Nope. No. Naw.
Astute analysis.
Why weren’t the Yankees talked about in more detail? Of all the teams mentioned in the opening paragraph, I feel they make the most sense. They can absorb Hayes’ lack of offense and plug him into the 8 or 9 hole, and his defense would make their pitching staff so much better, especially as they focus on ground ball pitchers in their hitters’ paradise of a home park. Throw in a bad salary for this year to help with the luxury tax and to keep Pittsburgh from another grievance against them. Cherry on top is he gets to go from Pittsburgh to the Yankees just like his dad Charlie did in ‘96.
The Yankees signed Jeimar Candelario to a AAA contract wirh the idea that they can coax the player he was woth rhe Cubs out of him for the major league minimum while the Reds pay the rest.
It is worth a shot for that price. If in the next two weeks he starts hitting at Scranton, he’ll be next up.
Agree, that’s a hard no for the Cubs. Shaw is playing great defense and hitting as poorly as Hayes. Geno or bust.
And cheaper too, I don’t mind them spending money but not $7M more for basically the same player but hits a lil bit better and more injury prone.
Not on my team. Go Brett Baty!
Nope. KB is not needed in Chicago unless it’s a poison pill to some pitching. Pitching is desperately needed.
No thanks. Shaw is sucking bad at hitting right now but he’s doing great defensively. Hayes is also a bad hitter so no need to get rid of prospects for a lateral move at 3B
Yankees seem like the best fit. Kay and jomboy can then stop talking about how bad their infield defence is.
The Yankees don’t have any major league players who have several years of control to trade
Cherington doesn’t want low level prospects, he wants to keep his job
No one is trading a major league player with several years of control for Hayes. This would be a salary dump for the Pirates.
I like Hayes a lot. His defense is poetry in motion. I think he may even have untapped offensive upside, but the balky back, poor offensive track record, and long term contract combine to mean he has very little trade value.
Ke’Bryan Hayes does not solve the lack of power production from what the Cubs are getting. Shaw is better on defense as well. Taking nothing from Hayes
Hayes would actually be a significant offensive upgrade from Peraza.
The Pirates would probably be thrilled to get rid of his contract. He’s a great defender but cannot hit at all, and chronic back issues don’t tend to get better with age.
Hayes is no upgrade for the Tigers… they need a real hitter like Suarez or McMahon to play third, not a little puffy hitter like Hayes. Let’s hope someone else gets him before the Tigers make a foolish move like that.
Suarez isn’t a good hitter, he’s just the beneficiary of good accidental contact.
Suarez has 28 homers, 2.6 WAR… that’s not accidental.. There’s no diminishing that, makes you sound pathetic and jealous.
I like the fit for the Yankees. They could use a right handed hitting 3b and they have enough offense to carry a defense first players. They can also afford his contract long term no problem.
I said it above. Brian Cashless went with Jeimar Candelario. If he hits .270 at Scranton he will be up by July 20th, at Major league minimum cost.
No one is counting on Jeimer in 2025, if he turns back the clock, cool, but the Yankees shouldn’t and won’t make any plans revolving around that happening
Pirates should offer a mid tier prospect along with Hayes just to make sure they get rid of contract. Reynolds as well.
First step in the right direction is overpay your best player in Skenes and lock him up for 10 @ $500M. Pile in the kids…it’s not like anything up there on the roster is doing any better.
The Pirates are not giving anyone $500 million.
Just what the Yankees need: a 3B with no power and chronic back problems. At least the price is reasonable…
Hard pass for the Tigers. Terrible contract.
Soderstrom or Rooker + Severino for Hayes?
Dont think thats near enough for the A’s, sevy’s deal isnt that underwater considering what pitching goes for and his numbers away from Sutter field.
Even if the A’s were that desperate to move him, would Nutting be willing to take on both Rooker and Severino’s money?
A’s say no thanks.
Somehow I picture this guy getting the last out in the world series throwing off 3rd base.
The Tigers definitely don’t need this guy. Not unless the asking price is very, very cheap.
Yankees don’t need another injury prone player on a long term deal. I don’t want Arenado but rather have him than waste prospects/money on Hayes.