Reds stay active, ink '23 All-Star Hays

CINCINNATI -- An active Reds offseason of transactions -- including this week -- has likely reached its limit on Thursday with the announcement of outfielder Austin Hays joining the club on a one-year, $5 million contract.

The deal, which includes an extra $1 million in incentives, was agreed to on Tuesday. There was a delay in finalizing the contract so Cincinnati could go over the results of Hays' physical after he endured a serious kidney infection last season.

"We went through an extensive physical to make sure he was going to be healthy," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. "What he went through last year, just talking to him today, must have been a really tough thing. But the guy was an All-Star two years ago, and he¡¯s got a chance to be a solid everyday outfielder. We¡¯re just hoping he can get back to that form and contribute to this lineup.¡±

To make room for Hays, reliever Casey Legumina was designated for assignment.

Hays, 29, was a 2023 All-Star for the Orioles, but he endured an injury-filled and subpar ¡®24 season. That could make him a decent bounceback candidate for the Reds.

In 85 games last season for the Orioles and Phillies, Hays batted .255 with a .699 OPS, five home runs and 20 RBIs. He dealt with leg injuries, including a hamstring strain, and he suffered from his kidney infection in September.

¡°I think he looks at this as a huge blip in his career and he¡¯s looking to get here and take off from here," Krall said.

Baltimore traded Hays to Philadelphia on July 26 for reliever Seranthony Dom¨ªnguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. After the season, Hays was non-tendered and became a free agent.

In 2023 for the Orioles, Hays batted .275 with a .769 OPS, 16 homers and 67 RBIs in 144 games. His career high for home runs is 22, which was set in 2021. The right-handed-hitting Hays, primarily a left fielder who could also see time in right field, balances a Reds outfield that features left-handed-hitting TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley and Will Benson, as well as righty Stuart Fairchild.

Cincinnati, according to sources, had been in talks with the White Sox about acquiring center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Krall didn't directly acknowledge talks for Robert, saying only that he has held conversations with different clubs.

"With those conversations, when you don¡¯t have it, you just don¡¯t match up with prospects. We didn¡¯t match up with some prospects with some teams," Krall said.

With Hays in the fold, Cincinnati could move the versatile Spencer Steer back to the infield after he spent much of last season in left field. Besides second base, Steer also can play third base and first base, where the club currently has unsettled positions.

¡°I think we¡¯re going to be able to use him in different spots," Krall said of Steer.

On Wednesday, the Reds acquired left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers and $6 million for a Minor League pitcher. In other trades this winter, they picked up infielder Gavin Lux, starting pitcher Brady Singer and backup catcher Jose Trevino. They also retained two free agents -- starter/reliever Nick Martinez and lefty reliever Brent Suter.

Other moves completed this week were the signings of two familiar faces to Minor League contracts -- lefty starter Wade Miley and right-handed reliever Ian Gibaut, who will be in camp as non-roster invitees.

Miley, 38, was with Cincinnati from 2020-21 and threw a no-hitter during the '21 season. With the Brewers in '24, he had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in April. Krall doesn¡¯t expect him to be ready to return until sometime in May.

"Great guy, really knows how to pitch. He¡¯s going to be a guy who comes in, gets himself healthy and then we¡¯ll see where he goes throughout the course of the year," Krall said. "He¡¯s a guy that¡¯s a good veteran influence on the younger players as well. He knows a lot about the game, just a quality guy to bring in.¡±

Gibaut, 31, spent the last three seasons with the Reds, but he was limited to a pair of appearances in 2024 because of a right forearm injury. In ¡®23, he led the club with 74 appearances and posted a 3.33 ERA.

The Reds, which gained a little financial flexibility earlier this month from returning to FanDuel Sports Network as their local television rightsholder, appear to be done with adding players via big league deals.

¡°I think we¡¯re probably in a spot where this is your team going into camp," Krall said. "I¡¯d love to bring a couple of more NRIs in just to compete for spots. I think the competition is really good. We probably don¡¯t have as much flexibility as obviously we did last week.¡±