The Reds are bulking up in an attempt to get back to the playoffs.
Cincinnati (56-52) is acquiring third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pirates, the club announced Wednesday, a day before the MLB trade deadline.
Pittsburgh is getting left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers and shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura in the deal.
Hayes, 28, is one of the best defensive third baseman in the league and is under team control for five more seasons beyond this year.
“He might be the best defender in baseball. If not, he’s right there,” manager Terry Francona said after the deal. “We’re trying to find ways to get better. We care so much about trying to play clean baseball, and this will be a huge step in that direction.”
The 2023 Gold Glover hasn’t matched the tantalizing offensive potential he flashed during his MLB debut in 2020. He’s a career .254 hitter with a .676 OPS.
In 100 games this season with the Pirates, Hayes is hitting .236 with a .569 OPS, two home runs and 36 RBIs.
The Pirates are trading Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Reds. Getty Images
The Reds entered Wednesday three games out of the final NL wild-card spot and 8.5 games back of the NL Central-leading Brewers.
They’ve made the playoffs just once in the last 11 years, and that came during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The last time the Reds won a playoff series was in 1995.
Ke’Bryan Hayes #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two run RBI single in the eighth inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park on July 27, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Getty Images
“If you’re selling, that means you’re losing,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said Wednesday. “So if you’re a buyer, you’re in position to potentially get to the postseason and see what happens. So you always want to be a buyer. That’s that’s the most important thing. These guys are playing really hard right now.
“You want that to continue and to give them support as best we can.”