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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Austin Hays #12 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Dodger Stadium on September 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox are having an active offseason in terms of spending and roster transactions. After signing Munetaka Murakami earlier this winter, the White Sox traded away centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets and signed Seranthony Dominguez. On Saturday, multiple reports indicated that free agent outfielder Austin Hays is signing a one-year deal with the White Sox. The contract has a base salary of $5 million for the 2026 season, and a $1 million buyout and up to $375K in incentives.
The former All-Star Austin Hays is 30 and earned himself this one-year deal after a solid 2025 campaign. Other teams thought to be linked to Hays before this deal were the Mets, Yankees, and Giants, but it’s ultimately the team on the south side of Chicago that inks the deal for Hays. The following reports after this signing regarding which other teams made formal offers for Hays will be interesting.
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Chicago White Sox Sign Austin Hays
This is a solid signing for the Chicago White Sox, who might have an outside chance to be a lot better than people think in 2026 in a weak American League Central division. Adding Munetaka Murakami to the middle of the order, and then a surrounding young cast of Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, and others could pose some trouble for opposing pitchers.
Hays hit 15 home runs in 2025 over 103 games with 66 RBIs, a .266 average, and an OPS+ of 105.
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Austin Hays #12 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Dodger Stadium on September 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Austin Hays had been a steady 3 bWAR player from 2021 to 2023, and after regressing in 2024, he got back on the right track in ’25.
Over his eight-year MLB career, Hays has 83 home runs, 212 RBIs, and a lifetime .262 average.
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Austin Hays’ Role With the White Sox
For a White Sox team that has been in the cellar of the division the past couple of seasons, their front office is putting the organization in strong shape to at least be more competitive in seasons to come.
At worst, Austin Hays will be a good veteran presence in the White Sox clubhouse for some of the younger players.
At this time of the offseason, there aren’t as many high-profile position player free agents, so this is about as flashy an outfielder signing as you can make at this time of year.
The next question will be, assuming Hays has a spot in the outfield every day, what happens with Luisangel Acuna and Brooks Baldwin?
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