White Sox Plan to Release Outfielder Austin Hays

The Chicago White Sox appeared to have a roster logjam on their hands involving veteran outfielders Austin Hays and Everson Pereira. Chicago had both players on injury rehab assignments at the same time but did not have enough roster space to activate both once they were healthy.

Leading up to the MLB trade deadline, it seemed like the White Sox were due to move one of their outfielders and redistribute their assets elsewhere. But choosing between the two was going to be difficult. Pereira was the upside play, a 25 year old with big power and the athleticism to play center field. However, he had produced inconsistently at the MLB level throughout his career, and three separate IL stints made it difficult for him to build any real offensive momentum.

Hays, the proven commodity, would give the White Sox a reliable bat. That's what they signed him to be. But admittedly, Hays became somewhat redundant after the White Sox acquired Randal Grichuk, who has an .876 OPS in 59 games with Chicago this season.

The issue with keeping Hays was the defensive liability it would create on the bench. Hays, Grichuk, and even Andrew Benintendi are all aging outfielders who don't bring much to the table defensively. That would have been pretty restrictive for Will Venable and detrimental to the team’s overall defense. The issue with keeping Pereira was the uncertainty surrounding his bat. It was difficult to know whether his hot stretch in April was indicative of what was to come or merely a flash in the pan.

But rather than choosing between the two, the White Sox chose neither. After acquiring outfielder Brenton Doyle from the Colorado Rockies at the MLB trade deadline, Chicago designated Pereira for assignment. Hays, who had remained with Triple A Charlotte on an injury rehab assignment, will now be placed on release waivers.

Release waivers are part of the process a team must follow when it plans to release a player on the 40-man roster. The White Sox are cutting Hays loose, making him a free agent and allowing him to sign with any team for the final two months of the season.

Hays can be claimed by a team, which would free the White Sox of his remaining salary. But if he goes unclaimed, Chicago will outright release him. 

Internally, the White Sox clearly do not value what they have seen from Pereira or Hays this season. But it's a bit unnerving to see how little offense they currently have on the bench. On a standard night with a right-handed pitcher on the mound, the White Sox bench includes Brenton Doyle, Luisangel Acuña, Drew Romo, and Randal Grichuk. Grichuk is the only player in that group whom you would feel confident sending to the plate in a pinch hit opportunity.

The White Sox are placing an emphasis on versatility and defense with their bench spots, a gamble that may or may not pay off.

Adding Hays in free agency was an exciting move for the White Sox simply because it demonstrated the organization’s commitment to taking a step forward. But his production in 2026 turned out to be a massive disappointment. Hays played in just 12 games for Chicago, hitting one home run with a .576 OPS.