Austin Hays prioritized opportunity and fit when choosing the White Sox over other free agency suitors.
Just a few hours before ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news that free-agent outfielder Austin Hays was preparing to sign with the Chicago White Sox on a one-year deal, national reports indicated that Hays was choosing between a handful of teams.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Reds, Rangers, White Sox, Tigers, Cardinals, Padres, and Cubs were all in the mix.
But it was ultimately Chicago that beat out the rest of the pack, with Hays choosing the South Side over several more clear-cut contenders. But why?
It’s not as if the White Sox dramatically outbid the market. They offered a one-year deal, and the $6 million salary for 2026 was likely in line with what other teams had on the table.
This decision was all about fit.
And while I don’t need to rehash why the fit makes sense for the White Sox—I’ve been advocating for this signing all offseason—the more interesting question is why Hays felt Chicago was the right fit for him.
He answered that when he spoke with White Sox media over Zoom this week after the deal became official.
It all traces back to 2024, a season Hays has described as a “lost year” in his career.
He spent three weeks on the injured list in the first half before being traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Philadelphia Phillies shortly before the deadline. Despite the fresh start, injuries followed him into the second half—first a left hamstring strain that cost him two weeks, then a kidney infection that sidelined him for another three.
Coming off a 2023 season in which Hays was named an AL All-Star with Baltimore, he played in just 85 games in 2024 and produced at a disappointing level.
That experience left him with a chip on his shoulder—or, as he put it in his own words, “a lot to give.”
Now 30 years old, Hays wanted to land somewhere that would allow him to prove that again.
“Last year I was able to get my health back and reestablish myself after really feeling like I had a lost year,” Hays said. “So going back into free agency, I really wanted to go somewhere where I would have an opportunity to do that—play every day, get back to playing both sides of the ball, and play defense as well.”
“There’s a tremendous opportunity with Chicago to be able to do that,” he continued. “I’ve got a lot to give, and I’m going to be able to give that here with this team.”
The next step for Hays was reaching out to former teammates to get a feel for the White Sox organization and what it’s building. He says he got nothing but positive feedback.
He’s excited about joining a young team with strong clubhouse chemistry—one that showed tangible signs of progress in the second half.
Yes, Hays said he believes the White Sox are starting to turn a corner. And yes, that’s something players are supposed to say. But this fit isn’t about whether Chicago wins in 2026 or not.
For Hays, it’s about playing time. It’s about continuing to establish himself now that he’s healthy and hungry. It’s about joining a young core that makes it enjoyable to come to the ballpark every day. And if he plays well, it also leaves open the possibility of being moved to a contender at the trade deadline.
There’s value there, too, when you’re staring at free agency again next winter.
If Hays had prioritized immediate contention, he could have signed with teams like the Padres, Cubs, or Tigers. But the White Sox offered something those teams couldn’t: a clear runway to everyday at-bats, an opportunity to prove he can still be a plus defensive outfielder, and a hitter-friendly ballpark to rebuild value.
It’s also hard to ignore the familiarity with White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller, who worked with Hays during his All-Star season in 2023. There may not be a better situation for a veteran looking to rediscover his best version and set himself up for another payday.
This is part of the slow perception shift we’re beginning to see around the White Sox league-wide. The more players like Hays buy in and speak positively about their experience, the easier it becomes for others to view Chicago as a viable—and appealing—destination.
There’s a reason I’ve pushed for this signing for months. It’s one of those rare moves that genuinely makes sense for both sides, in the short-term and long-term.
And White Sox fans should enjoy the raised floor Hays brings to Chicago’s offense in a corner outfield spot.