Dugs@yuggs513
KeyBryan Hayes is the worst Reds front office move of my life. Why?
Reds acquired KeyBryan Hayes on July 30th, 2025. At the time they were 57-52, 3 games out of a playoff spot. They were below average in nearly every offensive category at the time but for context they were 22nd in baseball in wRC+. They answered those qualms by trading for Hayes (among others).
At the time of the trade here is where he ranked amongst qualified 3B.
AVG: 13/16
OBP: 16/16
SLG: 16/16
OPS: 16/16
wRC+: 16/16
K%: 11/16
BB%: 16/16
And you are probably thinking to yourself, well, he must have just been having a really down year. Had to be a buy low, right? NOPE.
2024 (did qualify numbers so ranked amongst guys with 350 PA’s):
AVG: 26/34
OBP: 30/34
SLG: 34/34
OPS: 34/34
wRC+: 34/34
K%: 22/34
BB%: 25/34
2023:
AVG: 5/21
OBP: 20/21
SLG: 12/21
OPS: 14/21
wRC+: 17/21
K%: 8/21
BB%: 21/21
2022:
AVG: 16/22
OBP: 18/22
SLG: 22/22
OPS: 22/22
wRC+: 22/22
K%: 13/22
BB%: 14/22
We are not just talking about a bad offensive player. We are talking about a guy who for 3.5 years of professional baseball was the worst offensive player at his position in the sport AND IT WASN’T EVEN CLOSE.
He would be considered a bad acquisition if he was being paid $500,000 and you got him for a bucket of balls from the Florence Freedom. But instead? He’s your 4th highest paid player on this years roster and you gave up a top 10 prospect to get him! Surely, this signing won’t impact the future tho. WRONG AGAIN!
Only Hunter Greene has more future money on the books than the 29 million (assuming team option is declined) KeyBryan Hayes is owed.
It was/remains a baffling move. There is no amount of defense that makes this move worth it. TJ Friedl is still playing CF because they traded for KeyBryan Hayes. The outfield was not addressed because of KeyBryan Hayes. Matt McLain has zero pressure because of KeyBryan Hayes. We are not yet 100 games into his Reds tenure and it is already an unequivocal failure. The manager is debating pinch hitting for the guy in the 4TH INNING OF MAY BASEBALL GAMES.
FIRE. NICK. KRALL.