The Cincinnati Reds were linked to a reunion with Eugenio Suarez, who once hit 49 home runs in a Reds uniform.
The price must not have been right, though. On Wednesday, Cincinnati went a different direction to solve its third base opening.
The Reds have traded for Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
“Hayes is among the best defensive players in baseball and has five years of club control beyond this season,” Passan wrote.
The Reds give up two players: shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura and pitcher Taylor Rogers.
Hayes was once a first-round pick by the Pirates out of a high school in Texas. He’s the son of long-time big leaguer Charlie Hayes.
Ke’Bryan was always a well-regarded prospect, someone whose upside was expected to be determined by his bat.
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He’s an MLB-level third baseman just with his glove. But in his career, he’s just a .254 hitter, and this season, that batting average is down at .236.
Hayes has just two home runs in 100 games played this season.
This is definitely a trade that could work out either way. If Hayes’ bat improves, it’ll combine with his glove to make him a star.
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If Hayes never becomes a better hitter, the Reds may look for an upgrade at the hot corner in a couple years.
But it’s a deal Cincinnati had to try now. Maybe it’s not Suarez, but it’s still an improvement. They get better, and now they’ll make a playoff push with a solid balance of pitching, hitting and defense.
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