Pittsburgh Pirates surround third baseman K’Brian Hayes.
A man familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that the Pirates and Hayes have reached a new eight-year, $ 70 million deal, pending the physical pass of 25-year-old Hayes. The man spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because an official announcement is not expected until the team’s home opener on April 12.
Hayes batted third in the Pittsburgh season opener in St. Louis on Thursday but suffered an apparent injury to his left arm or wrist in the first inning. He was limited to 97 games last year due to a left wrist injury.
Hayes was scheduled to finish third in the Pittsburgh season opener in St. Louis on Thursday.
The deal gives the team some stability as they continue a systematic build-up under General Manager Ben Cherington. Hayes, the son of former Major League Charlie Hayes and a first-round pick in the 2015 amateur draft, reached the big leagues in 2020.
Hayes has entered the 2022 season with .280 hits in 120 career games. Known for his strong defensive play, Hayes won the Rookie of the Month during an electrical debut following his arrival in September 2020. He struggled in 2021 with a wrist problem.
Introduction gives a fan base growing antsy when a player ends up attaching himself to three straight end positions. The pirates are still in a transition period, with most of their chances of reaching Pittsburgh still at least a year or two since Cherington took charge in the fall of 2019.
The pirates are expected to end up below or near NL Central again with a widely unheard of and cheap roster. Charrington has repeatedly said the team will start investing when it believes it is close to victory, and the deal with Hayes provides the first real evidence of a long-term plan at the Big-League level.
The deal, which is effective this season, carries at least 2029 and includes an option for 2030.