SAN DIEGO — The Trade Deadline has come and gone, but the Padres still found a way to address an area of need on their roster, signing right-handed-hitting outfielder Austin Hays to a Major League deal on Sunday.
Hays wasted no time making an impact. He came off the bench in the eighth inning of the Padres’ 7-2 victory and launched a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Astros lefty Bryan King.
“We’ve been missing that right-handed bat off the bench that we could throw in for a pinch-hit,” said Padres manager Craig Stammen. “Great swing by him. Welcome to the Padres, Austin Hays.”
Hays was activated before Sunday’s series finale, with newly acquired utilityman Gage Workman optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. Hays, 31, had spent most of the year rehabbing multiple leg injuries, before he was designated for assignment — and eventually released — by the White Sox last week.
For his entire career, Hays has mashed against left-handed pitching, with a career .816 OPS. The Padres, meanwhile, have combined for a team .668 OPS against southpaws. Hays seems like an obvious upgrade for their bench, and he could start occasionally in left field.
“If I get starts, I get starts; if I’ve got to come in off the bench and face some nasty lefties, I’m ready for that,” Hays said. “Whatever they need me for, I’m ready for.”
Hays has reached the postseason in each of the past three seasons — with three different clubs (the Orioles in 2023, the Phillies in ’24 and the Reds in ’25).
“Trying to keep that streak alive,” he said.
That’s all part of the Padres’ calculus. Hays is a veteran with postseason experience. He was an All-Star with the Orioles in 2023. But more recently, he’s found a niche as a platoon piece.
“As the week goes, he’ll probably get some starts,” Stammen said. “But that’s kind of the spot. He’s on the roster for that opportunity — when they bring a lefty in, and we’ve got some of our lefties up there, and we’d rather have a righty hitting. He can be someone with some pop off the bench.”
It’s been an awkward season for Hays, who was hitting .233 with a .576 OPS in 12 games with the White Sox. He spent the majority of the year on the injured list while rehabbing hamstring and calf injuries. Hays recently completed his rehab from that calf injury, but the White Sox — after a handful of moves at the Deadline — didn’t have a place for him on their active roster.
“Unfortunately, the team kind of found their way without me, while I was hurt,” Hays said. “I don’t get to see it through until the end — that’s probably the hardest part. … But that’s just how this game goes sometimes; it doesn’t wait for you.”
It didn’t take long for Hays to find a landing spot.
“We’re in August, there’s a lot of meaningful baseball to be played,” Hays said. “I left one contender and came over here to a really good ballclub that’s built to win and built to go all the way to the finish line.
“I’m really thankful that I’m getting the opportunity to join a team like that. My legs are feeling good. I’m feeling healthy at the right time. I was swinging it really good on my rehab assignment. So I’m confident, healthy and ready to go.”
In 20 games with Triple-A Charlotte during his rehab, Hays posted a .779 OPS with six homers.
Clearly, general manager A.J. Preller has envisioned Hays as a fit for a long time. Hays revealed on Sunday that he’d been in talks to sign with the Padres on multiple occasions. He even recalled being scouted by Preller leading up to the 2016 Draft. (Hays was selected in the third round of that Draft by Baltimore.)
“I have some history with him,” Hays said. “I was like, ‘Hey, it’s meant to be.’”
The specific fit is a clean one. Against left-handers, the Padres have been using some combination of Jase Bowen and Luis Rengifo in left field. Bowen is an outstanding defender, but doesn’t bring much with the bat. Rengifo has been excellent at the plate since his arrival — but isn’t much of a left fielder.
Hays seems to give the Padres what they’re looking for. He can hit left-handed pitching and play a solid left field. That leaves Rengifo to DH against lefties and Bowen as a speed-and-defense bench option primarily.
Things might get a bit more complicated when Miguel Andujar (right wrist fracture) and Samad Taylor (right oblique strain) come off the IL. But neither is particularly close. That’s a problem for another day.
In the meantime, the Padres found a way to improve their roster after the Deadline, which isn’t always easy to do.
