Player News
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The Reds declined Hays' $12 million mutual option for 2026 on Wednesday. Hays will be given a $1 million buyout. The 30-year-old slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs over 103 regular-season contests for the Reds in 2025. The right-handed-hitting Hays batted .319/.400/.549 against left-handed pitching this season and could draw interest as a short-side platoon outfielder in free agency.
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Hays (back) will start in left field and bat cleanup Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Dodgers. It's Hays' first start since Sept. 20, as he's been battling back spasms. He was able to see action as a pinch hitter in the final game of the regular season Sunday and will hit in the middle of the lineup against Blake Snell in the Dodgers as the Reds kick off postseason play.
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Hays (back) is on the Reds' wild-card roster. Hays hasn't started a game since Sept. 20 due to back spasms, but he made a pinch-hitting appearance during Sunday's regular-season finale in Milwaukee and came out of it well enough to be included on his club's wild-card roster. With lefty Blake Snell starting Game 1 for the Dodgers on Tuesday, there's a good chance the right-handed-hitting Hays will be in the lineup.
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Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee. Hays took swings in the batting cage Saturday and felt good afterward, which is an encouraging sign, as he felt discomfort while hitting earlier in the week. Still, the outfielder will be idle for Cincinnati's regular-season finale. The Reds will clinch a spot in the postseason with a win or a Mets loss Sunday. It's unclear if Hays will be good to go in time for the wild-card round, however.
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Hays (back) felt good after hitting in the batting cage Saturday, MLB.com reports. Hays had felt guarded with his injury in activities earlier in the week but came out of Saturday's session feeling "much better," according to Reds manager Terry Francona. Hays also did some running and agility drills on the field, but the team will monitor how he bounces back before making any decisions regarding his availability for Sunday's regular-season finale, a game in which the Reds can clinch a wild-card spot with a win (or a Mets loss).
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Stats
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | KO | SB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CIN | 103 | 380 | 60 | 101 | 15 | 64 | 29 | 107 | 7 | .265 |
| 2024 | BAL-PHI | 85 | 235 | 26 | 60 | 5 | 20 | 9 | 59 | 2 | .255 |




