"January 31st: The White Sox have agreed to a deal with outfielder Austin Hays, ESPN's Jesse Rogers reports. The one-year deal will pay Hays $6MM, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and the contract will be official following a physical. Hays will earn $5MM in salary in 2026, and there is a $1MM buyout on a mutual option for 2027, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes. Another $375K is available for Hays in incentive bonuses based around plate appearances."
"Playing time was an apparent priority for Hays, as Meisel wrote that the outfielder was looking for "a situation in which he could play every day." That didn't come in Cleveland since the Guardians didn't want to block any of its up-and-coming younger outfielders, but Hays will now land with another AL Central team that has plenty of at-bats on offer."
Austin Hays signed a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox that pays $6 million overall, including a $5 million salary in 2026, a $1 million buyout on a mutual option for 2027, and up to $375,000 in plate-appearance incentives. The mutual option for 2027 is valued at $8 million. Chicago's 40-man roster is currently full, requiring a corresponding roster transaction before the signing is finalized. Hays prioritized everyday playing time and is expected to receive semi-regular duty in right field and spot starts in left field depending on Andrew Benintendi's usage. Several other teams showed offseason interest in Hays.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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