1:56pm: Left-hander Taylor Rogers and minor league infielder Sammy Stafura are going back to Pittsburgh in the trade, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
1:48pm: The Reds are acquiring third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the division-rival Pirates, per Mark Feinsand, Alex Stumpf and Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Pittsburgh had reportedly been quite motivated to shed the remainder of Hayes’ contract and found a taker within their own division. He’ll head to Cincinnati and play out the remainder of his eight-year, $70MM contract extension in a new setting.
Hayes, 28, is a former first-round pick and top prospect who looked to be on the cusp of stardom early in his career. He graded as an elite defensive third baseman throughout his time in the minors and hit well as he climbed the minor league ladder. Hayes made an electric debut in the shortened 2020 season, showing off that plus-plus glove while hitting .376/.442/682 in his first 95 big league plate appearances.
Hayes didn’t replicate that output in his first full big league season in 2021, but he held his own with a .257/.316/.373 batting line in 396 plate appearances despite missing significant time due to a wrist injury. He hit just six homers but played outstanding defense and swiped nine bags. The following April, Pittsburgh signed him to an eight-year, $70MM deal which, at the time, was the largest in franchise history.
More to come