The Pittsburgh Pirates and Ke’Bryan Hayes are in it for the long haul. The Pirates gave an extension to the third baseman, an eight-year, $70 million deal, just hours before Opening Day. The agreement will become the largest guaranteed contract given to players with less than three years of service time. Plus, it’s the largest deal to be handed out by the Pirates. Eight years will keep Hayes through the end of the 2029 season. It also comes with a club option for the 2030 season.
Pirates progressing toward eight-year deal with 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 7, 2022
Pirates Ke’Bryan Hayes Career
Hayes is the son of former major league Charlie Hayes. Ke’Bryan became a first-round draft pick in the 2015 draft. Known for his strong defensive play, Hayes has 120 career games to his credit upon his arrival in September 2020. He’s hit .280/.340/.432 with 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases. Furthermore, Hayes was a top-100 prospect as the Pirates had a promising star in their laps. Hayes posted an impressive 1.124 OPS deposited limited action in the shortened 2020 season. However, 2021 saw Hayes get a taste of reality, struggling to find his power at the plate. He did battle a left wrist injury that was limited him to only 96 games.
This contract would become a major bargain if a breakout season were to happen for Hayes. Similar to the one the Pirates gave to Andrew McCutchen years ago at six years, $51.5 million. With a new contract to his name, Hayes will enter the free-agent market after his early 30s. The deal could be the largest of his career, giving him financial security.
The Pirates appear to finish near the bottom of the standings again. The extension to Hayes opens the door for the team to start making investments. With Hayes under contract for most of the decade, he’s the first proof of evidence of a long-term plan that could help Pittsburgh win down the road.
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