The MLB trade deadline is a time for the Detroit Tigers to bolster their roster for a potential World Series run. Despite sitting atop the AL, the Tigers have a few areas of the roster that could use improvement.
One of those areas is at third base, and according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Tigers have “checked in” on a potential third base option to round out the roster.
“The New York Yankees,” Nightengale writes, “Detroit Tigers, and Chicago Cubs have all checked in with the Pirates for third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates are clear sellers, and while Detroit could look to land some of the Pirates’ pitchers, Hayes is another potential piece for the Tigers to land.
Hayes is a former Gold Glove third baseman who is under team control through 2029 as he’s on a huge eight-year, $70 million contract extension. The 28-year-old is in year six and has 4.5 years of control left if the Tigers did trade for him.
While he has a great glove, his offense leaves a lot to be desired. This season in 91 games, Hayes is batting .237 with a .284 on-base percentage and a .293 slugging percentage.
His .577 OPS and 62 OPS+ are well below the league average. Trading for such a player, who has a lot of money still left on his deal, is a huge risk for any team looking to land him.
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While Detroit can make it work, they’d be taking a huge risk. There are other third basemen, like Eugenio Suarez or Ryan McMahon, who’d be better trade targets, but Hayes might be the best option for Detroit if they can’t land either.
His defense somewhat makes up for his poor offensive production, but he’s still not a player worth $70 million over eight years. But, regardless of whether he’s worth it, the Tigers are checking in on him ahead of the deadline.
Detroit has been rumored to be scouting the market for third base help, and while not the best offensive piece, he’d help sure up a defense in Detroit that’s sitting around the middle of the pack defensively.
Hayes wouldn’t be the ideal deadline pickup for Detroit, but he could help the team immediately on defense. And while unlikely, he could turn things around offensively once he’s traded and playing for a contender.
This report from Nightengale is one to keep in mind as the deadline approaches. With less than two weeks to go, the Tigers are looking for a third baseman and have checked in on Hayes as a potential deadline pickup.
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