Right-handed hitting Austin Hays would be an outstanding addition to the Cleveland Guardians outfield.
It all adds up.
Coming off a nice season with the Cincinnati Reds, Hays, 30, is now a free agent.
The Cleveland Guardians have an unmet need for credible right-handed hitters. Especially in their outfield.
Not only is Hays a credible right-handed hitter, he has some pop in his bat.
And he wouldn’t cost the Guardians a player or players in trade.
Last season, Hays hit 16 doubles, five triples, and 15 home runs, while driving in 64 runs with the Reds.
Hays did strike out 107 times in 418 plate appearances, which could be an issue for a team like Cleveland, which places a high value on consistent contact hitting. Especially from a hitter with a mediocre-power tool.
The Guardians did not have an outfielder hit more than 12 home runs last season.
Part-time outfielder Daniel Schneemann hit 12 homers. Part-time outfielder Angel Martinez hit 11 homers, the same amount as Steven Kwan.
That’s it. Those are the only three Cleveland Guardians who hit more than 11 homers last year.
Clearly, Austin Hays could top that mark.
About Austin Hays:
At 5-11, 200 pounds, Hays has an average frame for a major league outfielder.
Drafted in the 3rd round by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft out of Jacksonville University, Hays helped his Spruce Creek (Florida) High School team to a state baseball championship as a junior in high school.
The 91st player taken in the draft, the Orioles gave Hays a signing bonus of $685,000.
Hays played for the Orioles, from making his big league debut in 2019 until he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in July 2024.
Hays became a free agent in November 2024, and he signed with the Cincinnati Reds in January 2025.
According to Sportrac.com, Hays played under a $5M contract this past season.
It is expected Hays could fetch a two-year contract with a value of $12M.
If indeed, that is what the market believes to be Hayes’ contract value, he makes great sense for the Cleveland Guardians.
A role for Austin Hays:
Hays was an All Star with Baltimore in 2023. He was 27 at the time, and in his prime.
While this old scout doesn’t believe Hays to be an All Star type player at this stage of his career, he could be an upgrade in a Guardians outfield that was woefully short on run producing outfielders.
Hays spent time on the Injured List in 2025, with a barking back being one of the most significant injuries that limited Hays to 416 plate appearances.
The Guardians could choose to use Hays as a platoon player, starting him or inserting him in games only against left-handed pitching.
Hays hit an impressive .319 vs. left-handed pitching, but only .249 vs. right-handed pitching last year for the Reds.
That type of platoon role may be best for his back issues.
However, if they chose to play Hays in center field, he could probably be a credible, every game starter. As long as he stays healthy.
That said, it remains to be seen if the Guardians would use Hays in center, or on an every game basis.
Hays won’t win a gold glove, but he certainly knows how to play the position.
Hays has enough speed to steal about 10 bases a year, and take an extra base when needed.
He is just aggressive enough to fit well in the Guardians methods of playing baseball. Get on, get over, and hopefully, score.
The Guardians should take a long, hard look at Austin Hays as a solid free agent acquisition.