With the need for some outfield help, the Pittsburgh Pirates still have plenty of options available through free agency to potentially add ahead of Opening Day.
Pittsburgh has had their eyes on corner outfielders this offseason, but the only major addition they’ve made to the lineup thus far is first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who they acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter has a suggestion in his prediction for the Pirates’ starting lineup when Opening Day arrives. Reuter predicted that Pittsburgh would add outfielder Austin Hays through free agency.
“Jack Suwinski and Joshua Palacios are the leading in-house options to start in right field, so adding a corner outfielder should still be on the to-do list,” Reuter wrote. “Austin Hays was an All-Star in 2023 and looks like a great buy-low target who could be available for less than the one-year, $10 million deal that Max Kepler signed with the Phillies.”
Hays played for both the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies in the 2024 campaign. Over an 85-game span, the 29-year-old hit .255 with a .699 OPS, five home runs, and 20 RBIs.
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The outfielder has a career WAR of 9.1 with a .745 OPS — so he’s a buy-low option with a real opportunity to bounce back. Hays could be an ideal option for the Pirates.
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