Austin Hays Appreciation Thread

[ShoelesJoe]

Hays hit .354 / .404 / .537 against LH pitching this season. I would absolutely take him back as a platoon player who can fill in all three OF positions. Given the number of southpaws other teams throw against us we'd be nuts not to consider signing him if he gets DFA'd. 

[Moose Milligan]

1 hour ago, Sports Guy said:

Hays has to accept the player that he is, but the player he thinks he is

Don't we all.

I'd take him back as a 4th outfielder type, but even then I'm really not thrilled about it.  If he's hitting exclusively against lefties, that's the only way I'd see a path for him here.

[dystopia]

1 hour ago, wildcard said:

Do you know him personally?

Obviously not, I’m just saying my personal opinion of him is negative.  

[interloper]

I'm not taking Hays back. I like the guy, but he's a poor fit as a 4th outfielder because he doesn't bring speed and the Orioles appear to not want to play him in CF. I'd take Slater over him just because he's a better fit as a bench player. Also, the ju-ju would be weird and he'd just be unhappy again. 

[Aristotelian]

Hays will want to start somewhere. He shouldn't start for us. We don't want him sitting on the bench looking dejected while Kjerstad and Cowser are mashing bombs onto Eutaw Street.

[MurphDogg]

1 hour ago, ShoelesJoe said:

Hays hit .354 / .404 / .537 against LH pitching this season. I would absolutely take him back as a platoon player who can fill in all three OF positions. Given the number of southpaws other teams throw against us we'd be nuts not to consider signing him if he gets DFA'd. 

Yeah, he would be good in the Austin Slater role if he was willing to accept it. Not sure that he would be quite as good defensively in CF, given that he has played fewer than 100 innings total in CF since 2021.

I highly doubt that he is ready to accept a role as a platoon player though, given that he is not yet 30, and he was an above average starter by rWAR from 2021-23.

I doubt he is tendered a contract, given his $6M 2024 salary.

His best bet is probably to sign a one year deal with a team that doesn't hope to compete, to attempt to reestablish himself as an everyday player, while the team that signs him can hope to flip him at the trade deadline.

[sportsfan8703]

1 hour ago, Moose Milligan said:

Don't we all.

I'd take him back as a 4th outfielder type, but even then I'm really not thrilled about it.  If he's hitting exclusively against lefties, that's the only way I'd see a path for him here.

That's really the role/opening for next year that we need.  A RHH OF that could play some CF preferably.  Although, I'd lean more to and offensive minded portion of that versus the ability to play CF.  LF is big though at home.

I think it's a role that Elias fills through trade, waivers, or maybe even a competition of milb deal types.  Like a RH Sam Hilliard type.  

[TommyPickles]

I agree with you all that Hays probably won't want to be a bench player, but I do think he'd be a good option if nothing better materializes for him. Definitely a player to keep an eye on. 

Its possible the familiarity of Baltimore and the chance to get a ring could appeal to him.

Edited 5 hours ago by TommyPickles

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

5 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

Hays has to accept the player that he is, but the player he thinks he is

[Too Tall]

Been there - done that - pass.

[Just Regular]

Unfortunately for John Middleton, he doesn't have anything better to do now than talk about how he'll be in the Juan Soto bidding all winter.

That could affect the 2025 Phillies need for Hays.

He'll be an interesting one to watch come the non-tender deadline.