MLB Rumors: Cardinals Interested in All-Star Outfielder From Division Rival

January 22, 2026 ,
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays celebrates during 2025 game.

The St. Louis Cardinals are checking in on free agent outfielder Austin Hays, after Chaim Bloom acknowledged the club is open to adding a right handed outfield bat. 

Hays lines up as the type of short term, value focused addition St. Louis can make without blocking Victor Scott II in center field, especially if the front office wants to keep letting Scott develop while still giving the lineup a smarter matchup weapon. 

Cardinals in on Austin Hays

Hays is coming off a solid 2025 with the Cincinnati Reds, hitting .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 103 games, and his profile screams platoon impact. 

He has long mashed left handed pitching, owning a .282/.340/.479 career line in a little over 800 plate appearances against southpaws, and last season the splits were loud again, including a .949 OPS versus lefties. 

For a Cardinals roster that leans left in spots, getting a righty bat who can be deployed selectively makes a big difference, especially with Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson both left handed and Jordan Walker still trying to lock down everyday production.

Hays is a former All-Star

Hays was an All Star in 2023, so while he is not being viewed as a centerpiece signing, he is not a pure depth name, and the market expectation around him looks closer to a one year deal than a long commitment. 

That's the kind of move that makes sense for St. Louis right now, a veteran who can stabilize a corner spot, punish left handed starters, and keep the roster flexible if Bloom ends up trading from the outfield mix later in the year.

For his career, Hays owns a .262/.313/.435 triple-slash line, with 83 home runs, 312 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, and 337 runs scored across 682 games played, along with a 10.5 WAR.

Photo Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

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