The Chicago White Sox are moving on from one of their veteran outfielders.
The White Sox have announced that they have designated outfielder Austin Hays for assignment. This comes after the 31-year-old just completed a rehab assignment for Triple-A Charlotte.
Hays has been out of major league action since May due to a calf strain. Now, with this news, teams around the league will have the chance to claim him from the White Sox if they wish to.
Hays played in just 12 games this season with the White Sox before being designated for assignment. During them, he recorded one home run, seven RBI, and a .233 batting average. This was after he had 15 home runs, 64 RBI, and a .266 batting average in 103 games for the Cincinnati Reds during the 2025 season.
Teams looking for outfield help could consider taking a chance on a player like Hays. He was an All-Star just back in 2023 with the Baltimore Orioles and could offer another team more pop if he stayed healthy. From 2021 to 2025, he hit at least 15 home runs in four seasons. This included in 2021 when he hit a career-high 22 home runs.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what happens with Hays from here. When noting that he simply no longer looked like a fit on the White Sox’s roster, it makes sense that they have designated him for assignment.