MLB Free Agency News: White Sox Sign Former All-Star

The Chicago White Sox have dipped their toes into the free agent pool, signing former All-Star outfielder Austin Hays to a $6 million, one-year deal.

Source confirms: Free-agent outfielder Austin Hays in agreement with White Sox. Deal is for one year. First: @JesseRogersESPN.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 31, 2026

The Pale Hose saved themselves $20 million by trading Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets earlier this month, and they have since gone out and spent most of that cash on a couple of free agents. First, Seranthony Dominguez got $20 million on a two-year deal to be their new closer, and now a good pickup for the outfield.

Hays has strong numbers as a right-handed hitter vs lefties, batting .319 last season in 105 plate appearances in that platoon matchup, with a .400 OPB and a .950 OPS against southpaws. His numbers vs. righties weren't so good, but he still finished the year as an above-average hitter, with a 105 OPS+.

He batted .266 with a .768 OPS overall in 416 plate appearances for the Cincinnati Reds, with 15 homers and 64 RBIs.

Hays began his career with seven seasons in Baltimore with the Orioles, where he was an All-Star is 2023, when he batted .275 with a .769 OPS (114 OPS+), 16 HR and 67 RBIs. He had 22 homers in 2021. He has a career average of .262 with 83 homers over 682 games.