{"id":103380,"date":"2025-07-03T00:26:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T04:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=103380"},"modified":"2025-07-03T00:26:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T04:26:19","slug":"pirates-kebryan-hayes-trade-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/03\/pirates-kebryan-hayes-trade-rumors\/","title":{"rendered":"Trade Rumors Swirl Around Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes, but it\u2019s Problematic"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees have their eyes on Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes<\/a>. So says Jon Heyman of the New York Post<\/em> as to the Yankees, and reporter Francys Romero as to the others.<\/p>\n

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May 28, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Ke’Bryan Hayes against the Arizona Diamondbacks in at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Heyman and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic<\/em>, the Pirates have made it known that anybody on their roster is available except for pitching wunderkind Paul Skenes<\/a> and franchise icon Andrew McCutchen<\/a>. It\u2019s hard for this writer to believe that David Bednar<\/a>, Oneil Cruz<\/a>, and Bryan Reynolds<\/a> are available. Cruz, because of his rare raw talent. Bednar, because owner Bob Nutting<\/a> reportedly blocked attempts to trade him previously. Reynolds, because Nutting was personally involved in his contract extension<\/a> negotiations. But one never knows.<\/p>\n

Pirates Third Baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes Subject of Trade Rumors<\/h2>\n

For now, we\u2019ll look at the possibility of the Pirates dealing Hayes by the trade deadline. For the second year in a row, he\u2019s struggled offensively. He\u2019s come around lately. He hit .301\/.333\/.373 in June. That raised his stat line to .247\/.297\/.304, 2 HR, and 29 RBI for the season. Hayes has always provided elite defense. He posted a WAR of 4.5 and 3.9 in 2022 and 2023, respectively, largely due to his glove work. He\u2019s also in the fourth year of an eight-year megabucks contract<\/a>. Unless the Pirates kick in some money (OK, you can stop laughing now), whoever picks up Hayes will be on the hook for the remainder of this year\u2019s $7 million salary, as well as $7 million in 2026 and 2027 and $8 million in 2028 and 2029. For 2030, there\u2019s a $12 million team option or a $6 million buyout.<\/p>\n

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Several teams are closely monitoring 3B Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes as a trade piece, according to industry sources.<\/p>\n

Hayes is one of the players most likely to be traded, with the Tigers, Yankees, and Cubs among the potential suitors.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) June 28, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n