The White Sox have provided further clarity on their outfield situation in an expected move.
Prior to tonight’s game in Boston, the team designated veteran outfielder Austin Hays for assignment after he completed his injury rehab with Triple-A Charlotte. MLB insider Jon Heyman gave the update moments before the team’s release and said that Hays had been placed on release waivers.
Hays, 31, had an extensive injury history leading up to his one-year, $6 million deal with the White Sox this offseason. He opened last season on the IL with a left calf strain, later missed time with a left hamstring issue, and also dealt with a contusion on his left foot. Hays was limited to just 85 games the year prior, though he appeared in 131 or more games while with the Orioles from 2021–23. Over those mainly healthy three years, he proved his worth by posting a combined 6.5 fWAR with 54 home runs and 198 RBI.
Unfortunately, the White Sox took a chance and couldn’t get that same level of production, as he was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 4 (retroactive to May 2) with another left calf strain after just 12 games. The team later transferred him to the 60-day IL on June 9.
On the season, Hays was batting .233/.250/.326 with a double, home run, seven RBI and three runs scored during the limited action. With Charlotte, Hays nearly played double the amount of rehab games and hit .250/.266/.513 with six homers over 76 at-bats. Regardless of how he performed, Hays had become the odd man out with the emergence of Randal Grichuk, who’s hit .275/.312/.565 with nine homers in 138 plate appearances. With the team also DFA’ing Everson Pereira after the acquisition of Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle, it became abundantly clear that Hays no longer had a future in Chicago either.
The veteran outfielder will now likely pass through release waivers unclaimed, as whichever team picks him up would also take on his remaining contract. Once he clears through that and is granted his release, the White Sox will then be on the hook for the rest of his contract, which is about $1.7 million. Hays should be an appealing option for any team looking for a right-handed platoon bat during the final stretch.
Following the move, the Sox’ 40-man roster remains at 40.
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