Jesse RogersJan 31, 2026, 10:15 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CHICAGO — The White Sox are in agreement on a one-year free agent contract with outfielder Austin Hays, sources tell ESPN.
The deal is reportedly worth $6 million plus incentives, according to the MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.
The White Sox have been searching for a veteran outfielder even before trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets recently. They’ve also moved on from Michael Taylor and Mike Tauchman from last year’s squad, opening a need for a veteran player to help produce and lead the way for a very young group of players on Chicago’s roster.
Hays joins Andrew Benintendi, Brooks Baldwin and newcomer Luisangel Acuna in the White Sox outfield where he could see plenty of playing time.
playAustin Hays blasts a homer (0:50)Austin Hays (Cincinnati Reds) with a Spectacular Hit San Diego Padres, 09/08/2025 (0:50)Jesse RogersJan 31, 2026, 10:15 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO — The White Sox are in agreement on a one-year free agent contract with outfielder Austin Hays, sources tell ESPN.The deal is reportedly worth $6 million plus incentives, according to the MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.Hays, 30, hit 15 home runs in 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season after spending most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a career .262 hitter with a .748 OPS over the span of his first eight years in the big leagues. He has played all three positions in the outfield over that time frame, appearing mostly in left field.The White Sox have been searching for a veteran outfielder even before trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets recently. They’ve also moved on from Michael Taylor and Mike Tauchman from last year’s squad, opening a need for a veteran player to help produce and lead the way for a very young group of players on Chicago’s roster.Hays joins Andrew Benintendi, Brooks Baldwin and newcomer Luisangel Acuna in the White Sox outfield where he could see plenty of playing time.
Jesse RogersJan 31, 2026, 10:15 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Austin Hays (Cincinnati Reds) with a Spectacular Hit San Diego Padres, 09/08/2025 (0:50)
CloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on X
Austin Hays blasts a homer (0:50)Austin Hays (Cincinnati Reds) with a Spectacular Hit San Diego Padres, 09/08/2025 (0:50)
playAustin Hays blasts a homer (0:50)Austin Hays (Cincinnati Reds) with a Spectacular Hit San Diego Padres, 09/08/2025 (0:50)Jesse RogersJan 31, 2026, 10:15 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO — The White Sox are in agreement on a one-year free agent contract with outfielder Austin Hays, sources tell ESPN.The deal is reportedly worth $6 million plus incentives, according to the MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.Hays, 30, hit 15 home runs in 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season after spending most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a career .262 hitter with a .748 OPS over the span of his first eight years in the big leagues. He has played all three positions in the outfield over that time frame, appearing mostly in left field.The White Sox have been searching for a veteran outfielder even before trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets recently. They’ve also moved on from Michael Taylor and Mike Tauchman from last year’s squad, opening a need for a veteran player to help produce and lead the way for a very young group of players on Chicago’s roster.Hays joins Andrew Benintendi, Brooks Baldwin and newcomer Luisangel Acuna in the White Sox outfield where he could see plenty of playing time.
playAustin Hays blasts a homer (0:50)Austin Hays (Cincinnati Reds) with a Spectacular Hit San Diego Padres, 09/08/2025 (0:50)Jesse RogersJan 31, 2026, 10:15 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO — The White Sox are in agreement on a one-year free agent contract with outfielder Austin Hays, sources tell ESPN.The deal is reportedly worth $6 million plus incentives, according to the MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.Hays, 30, hit 15 home runs in 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season after spending most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a career .262 hitter with a .748 OPS over the span of his first eight years in the big leagues. He has played all three positions in the outfield over that time frame, appearing mostly in left field.The White Sox have been searching for a veteran outfielder even before trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets recently. They’ve also moved on from Michael Taylor and Mike Tauchman from last year’s squad, opening a need for a veteran player to help produce and lead the way for a very young group of players on Chicago’s roster.Hays joins Andrew Benintendi, Brooks Baldwin and newcomer Luisangel Acuna in the White Sox outfield where he could see plenty of playing time.
playAustin Hays blasts a homer (0:50)Austin Hays (Cincinnati Reds) with a Spectacular Hit San Diego Padres, 09/08/2025 (0:50)Jesse RogersJan 31, 2026, 10:15 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO — The White Sox are in agreement on a one-year free agent contract with outfielder Austin Hays, sources tell ESPN.The deal is reportedly worth $6 million plus incentives, according to the MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.Hays, 30, hit 15 home runs in 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season after spending most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a career .262 hitter with a .748 OPS over the span of his first eight years in the big leagues. He has played all three positions in the outfield over that time frame, appearing mostly in left field.The White Sox have been searching for a veteran outfielder even before trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets recently. They’ve also moved on from Michael Taylor and Mike Tauchman from last year’s squad, opening a need for a veteran player to help produce and lead the way for a very young group of players on Chicago’s roster.Hays joins Andrew Benintendi, Brooks Baldwin and newcomer Luisangel Acuna in the White Sox outfield where he could see plenty of playing time.
playAustin Hays blasts a homer (0:50)Austin Hays (Cincinnati Reds) with a Spectacular Hit San Diego Padres, 09/08/2025 (0:50)Jesse RogersJan 31, 2026, 10:15 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO — The White Sox are in agreement on a one-year free agent contract with outfielder Austin Hays, sources tell ESPN.The deal is reportedly worth $6 million plus incentives, according to the MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.Hays, 30, hit 15 home runs in 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season after spending most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a career .262 hitter with a .748 OPS over the span of his first eight years in the big leagues. He has played all three positions in the outfield over that time frame, appearing mostly in left field.The White Sox have been searching for a veteran outfielder even before trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets recently. They’ve also moved on from Michael Taylor and Mike Tauchman from last year’s squad, opening a need for a veteran player to help produce and lead the way for a very young group of players on Chicago’s roster.Hays joins Andrew Benintendi, Brooks Baldwin and newcomer Luisangel Acuna in the White Sox outfield where he could see plenty of playing time.
Jesse RogersJan 31, 2026, 10:15 AM ETCloseJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO — The White Sox are in agreement on a one-year free agent contract with outfielder Austin Hays, sources tell ESPN.The deal is reportedly worth $6 million plus incentives, according to the MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.Hays, 30, hit 15 home runs in 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season after spending most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a career .262 hitter with a .748 OPS over the span of his first eight years in the big leagues. He has played all three positions in the outfield over that time frame, appearing mostly in left field.The White Sox have been searching for a veteran outfielder even before trading Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets recently. They’ve also moved on from Michael Taylor and Mike Tauchman from last year’s squad, opening a need for a veteran player to help produce and lead the way for a very young group of players on Chicago’s roster.Hays joins Andrew Benintendi, Brooks Baldwin and newcomer Luisangel Acuna in the White Sox outfield where he could see plenty of playing time.