The Cincinnati Reds desperately needed to upgrade at third base as they approached the trade deadline.
They walked away with Gold Glove-winning third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cincinnati traded reliever Taylor Rogers, prospect Sammy Stafura and cash to Pittsburgh in return.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic named this trade the worst of the trade deadline.
“I respect Hayes’ Gold Glove defense, but the Reds took on his entire contract, which includes approximately $38 million through 2029,” wrote Bowden. “That’s a lot of money and a long-term commitment for a small-market team, especially given Hayes’ struggles at the plate. Over his last 1,000 at-bats, Hayes has been a .230 hitter and averaged just three home runs a year.”
While the Reds got the best defensive third baseman in the game today with 16 Defensive Runs Saved and 15 Outs Above Average (both lead all third basemen), he isn’t an offensive upgrade.
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Hayes, 28, has three home runs and 39 RBI while slashing just .236/.278/.297 in 103 games this season.
He is 3-for-12 since joining the Reds and the team is 1-2 with Hayes in the lineup.
Cincinnati is four-games back from the final National League Wild Card spot and have been playing solid baseball as of late.
The Reds begin a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs, the second-best team in Major League Baseball, on Monday. Michael Soroka will debut and pitch for Chicago as Nick Lodolo toes the rubber for Cincinnati.
The Cubs have a seven-and-a-half game lead on the third place Reds.
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