Pirates Trade Analysis: Dealing Ke’Bryan Hayes to Reds is Bold But Could Pay Off in Multiple Ways
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a major splash on the eve of the trade deadline when they shipped third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds for left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers and infield prospect Sammy Stafura.
Hayes is arguably the best defender in baseball, regardless of position. If you look at some of the metrics, it’s probably not even arguable. He already has one Gold Glove sitting on his mantle… or in his mancave… or wherever he keeps it. He will very likely have another one at the end of this season.
But while there’s no debating how valuable Hayes’ defense is, he left plenty to be desired at the plate. In his career with the Pirates, Hayes posted a .254/.307/.369 batting line with 101 doubles, 16 triples, 39 home runs, 212 RBI and 61 stolen bases in 576 games, which equates to just an 84 wRC+.
The Pirates were hoping that Hayes would be at least an adequate offensive contributor when they inked him to an eight-year, $70 million extension in 2022, which at the time, was the largest contract in franchise history.
The return is what it is. If he’s not flipped, Rogers will help in the Pirates’ bullpen — one that could look a lot different before the 6 p.m. ET deadline tomorrow — before hitting free agency at the end of the season. His inclusion in the deal was a way for Cincinnati to offset Hayes’ 2025 salary.
Stafura, meanwhile, has some good tools and is off to a nice start after the Reds drafted him in the second round of the 2023 draft, but he’s a few years away from making his MLB debut. He will be one of the organizations more highly-regarded prospects. At the time of the trade, he was ninth on the Reds’ top 30 on MLB Pipeline.
But for the Pirates and their scarce financial resources, clearing $30 million from the books over the next four seasons (not to mention the $12 million club option or $6 million buyout for 2030) is important, if they spend that money wisely.
Third base is an obvious area the Pirates’ can look at to upgrade the lineup. Sure, they will miss the vacuum that Hayes was at the hot corner, but offense is a much bigger need for the Pirates heading into next season.
The Pirates already have a player in Jared Triolo, who is a glove-first natural third baseman who hasn’t figured it out offensively. And a much cheaper alternative, at that.
Trading Hayes to a division rival is an interesting choice, but general manager Ben Cherington has previously said he’s not concerned about dealing within the National League Central if he feels a move is in the Pirates’ best interest.
Hayes will no doubt take hits away from the Pirates as long as he wears a Reds’ uniform. But freeing up substantial money at a position where a difference-making bat can be added is the most important part of this deal. Getting an intriguing prospect (and a veteran reliever) is just an added bonus.
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