At the MLB trade deadline, the Detroit Tigers are expected to pursue a new starting third baseman. Jace Jung and company haven’t been great for Detroit, and with the team sitting atop the American League, this is the time to buy.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Tigers are among a few teams expressing interest in a former Gold Glove third baseman who’s on a massive contract.
“The Yankees, along with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs,” Nightengale writes, “Have also expressed interest in Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.”
While the Tigers will have some competition for Hayes, other third basemen could be available. If the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks struggle, Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez could become available.
In a scenario where Hayes, Suarez, and Bregman are all on the block, the Tigers, in theory, would be able to land a new third baseman. But for now, the Tigers have already expressed interest in Hayes from the Pirates.
The former Gold Glove third baseman signed a massive eight-year, $70 million deal that locked him up through the 2029 season, with a club option for 2030. If Detroit swung a deal for Hayes, they’d land their new long-term third baseman.
While he’s still an elite defender, inside the top five in Outs Above Average according to Baseball Savant, Hayes has struggled a bit offensively. He has a .244 batting average this season, with a .594 OPS on the year.
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It’s a little better than his 2024 numbers, .233 batting average and a .573 OPS, but his struggles at the plate are a major concern in a potential deal.
However, he does have a history of being a solid hitter. In his rookie season, in 24 games during the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season, he had an OPS of 1.124. In 2023, Hayes had a .762 OPS, the best he’s had in a year playing most of the season.
Adding Hayes would be an interesting move for Detroit, since a major need for them isn’t on defense, but rather offense. Having his glove at the hot corner would be nice, but the most important reason for a third base addition is the offense.
Hayes isn’t much of an offensive weapon, as he’s a below-average hitter. The hope would be that a change of scenery, to a postseason contender, would help him elevate his game.
Regardless of whether the Tigers land Hayes or not, this report from Nightengale shows the team is at the very least expressing interest in the Pirates’ third baseman. Less than a month until the trade deadline, and the Tigers are working to add a new third baseman.
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