Padres sign outfielder Austin Hays (source)
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The Padres have signed veteran outfielder Austin Hays to a Major League deal, a source told MLB.com's AJ Cassavell.
The club has not yet confirmed the deal.
Hays, 31, hit .233 with a .576 OPS in 12 games this season for the White Sox. He has spent the majority of the year on the injured list, first with a right hamstring strain and then with a left calf strain that has sidelined him for the last few months. The left fielder signed a one-year, $6 million deal with Chicago in the offseason.
An All-Star in 2023, Hays owns a career .262/.312/.433 slash line across parts of nine seasons with four teams. He excels against left-handed pitching, with a career .816 OPS against southpaws compared to a .714 OPS when facing right-handers.
Hays would fit an acute need for the Padres, who have struggled against left-handed pitching throughout the season. San Diego hitters entered play on Sunday with a .668 OPS against lefties that ranked fourth worst in the Majors. On top of that, Padres outfielders have combined for a .687 OPS, tied for the fifth-lowest mark in MLB. Hays would likely start in left field against left-handers and serve as a bat off the bench.
San Diego (61-57) began play on Sunday one game back of the third NL Wild Card.