Reds get Gold Glover Ke'Bryan Hayes in trade with Pirates

CINCINNATI -- The Reds were seeking offensive improvements, so the trade they made on Wednesday for a player known more for defense seemed counterintuitive. But Cincinnati acquired third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes from the Pirates for lefty reliever Taylor Rogers, shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura and cash considerations.

TRADE DETAILS

Reds receive: 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
Pirates receive: LHP Taylor Rogers, SS Sammy Stafura (Reds’ No. 9 prospect), cash considerations

Hayes, 28, is batting .236 with a .569 OPS and two homers this season for Pittsburgh, and he has a career high of 15 homers in 2023. His career average is .254 with a .676 OPS, meaning he lacks the bang-bang bat the Reds have been seeking around the Trade Deadline, but he does offer elite defensive skills.

“He might be the best defender in baseball. If not, he’s right there. He’s that good," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "We’re trying to find ways to get better. Sometimes it might not be the sexiest move, but we care so much about trying to play clean baseball, and this will be a huge step in that direction.”

In 2023, Hayes was a National League Gold Glove winner. This season, his +11 fielding run value is tops among third basemen, according to Baseball Savant, and his 91 defensive runs saved since his debut in 2020 are the most in baseball over that stretch.

Offensively, the Reds feel there is something to work with in Hayes, who will have a chance to develop his offensive skills at a more hitter-friendly home field like Great American Ball Park.

"We think there’s a lot of underlying metrics to where he is and what he’s doing offensively to improve and get back to where he was a couple of years ago,” said president of baseball operations Nick Krall. “We’re really excited. It’s not every day you get a chance to get a guy that is an elite defender.

“He hits the ball hard. He’s got good swing decisions. The walks and strikeouts are there, but he doesn’t chase a lot. He doesn’t swing and miss a ton. He’s above average at both. When you look at it, he hits down on the ball a lot, trying to use the opposite field, and maybe we’ll try to get him to lengthen his swing out a little bit and drive the ball like he was two years ago.”

Hayes also has a team-friendly contract since his eight-year, $70 million extension runs through 2029, with a $12 million club option for 2030 ($6 million buyout). This move could bring change-of-scenery upside.

Francona spoke briefly to Hayes, who was in San Francisco with the Pirates. He is expected to join the Reds on Thursday for their home game vs. the Braves.

“He seems excited, and we’re excited to have him. We’ll see where it goes," Francona said.

After adding Hayes, the Reds will move incumbent third baseman Noelvi Marte to right field. Marte has appeared in three games there in the past couple of weeks, including one start, and has been working out there before games for a little while. He started in right on Wednesday.

“It’s something he wants to do," Krall said. "It’s important that he’s completely bought into doing it. He has the instincts for the ball to go track it down. Obviously, he needs some reps and there’s going to be some growing pains out there, but him wanting to do it – first and foremost – is a key.”

However, the Hayes acquisition also blocks No. 2 prospect Sal Stewart, a third baseman currently at Triple-A Louisville. It remains to be seen what the club might do with Stewart.

“He needs to just keep playing," Krall said. "He needs to keep going and grinding with what he’s doing. He got to Triple-A a couple of weeks ago. He’s played well at Triple-A. We really like him. We think he’s going to be a big part of this club at some point."

Rogers was acquired by the Reds with cash from the Giants in January for Minor Leaguer Braxton Roxby. The 34-year-old was 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 40 appearances for Cincinnati but had 11 of his 26 inherited runners score.

The Reds are sending the Pirates almost $2 million of the money they got from the Giants in the Rogers deal.

Stafura, 20, was ranked as Cincinnati's No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline. The 2023 second-round pick out of Panas High School in New York batted .262 with an .804 OPS and four homers, 48 RBIs and 28 steals in 88 games for Single-A Daytona.

The Reds entered Wednesday three games back from a National League Wild Card spot and are trying to make the playoffs in a full season for the first time since 2013. With the Trade Deadline Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, Krall indicated more moves as buyers are possible.

“We’re working through things right now. We’ll see what happens," Krall said. "These guys are playing really hard right now and we want to continue to give them support and make this club the best we can.”