This piece takes a look at how free-agent outfielder Austin Hays has quietly turned into one of the more intriguing bats on the winter market. The Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, and New York Mets are all interested, but for pretty different reasons.
Kansas City desperately needs to fix an outfield that was historically bad. The Yankees are chasing big names like Cody Bellinger, while the Mets just want more reliable depth. Hays finds himself right in the middle of this three-team tug-of-war, and it could shake up a few outfields in 2026.
Kansas City Royals: From Historically Bad to Respectable?
The Kansas City Royals just finished a season where their outfield was, by almost any measure, the least productive in Major League Baseball. They ranked dead last among MLB outfields in runs, OPS, wRC+, and WAR—pretty much a collapse across the board.
Even after adding Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas, president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo isn’t pretending the job’s done. The Royals are still in on Austin Hays, hoping he can steady a group that really needs some competence and consistency.
Why Austin Hays Fits Kansas City’s Needs
Hays checks a few important boxes for a team trying to climb out of the offensive basement:
For a team not ready to spend big on free agents, Hays is a realistic upgrade. He could add a couple wins on his own, especially since he’d be replacing some pretty rough production.
New York Yankees: Hays as the Bellinger Contingency Plan
The New York Yankees see Hays differently. Their top priority is still clear: bring back Cody Bellinger to join Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham in what was the league’s most productive outfield last season.
The Yankees’ outfield led MLB in most major offensive stats in 2025, and Bellinger played a huge role in that. If they lose him, there’s a big hole—one that no second-tier free agent can really fill.
Due Diligence or Warning Sign in the Bronx?
New York’s reported interest in Hays stands out because it’s the first time the Yankees have been linked to him publicly. He’s clearly not Plan A. Honestly, he might not even be Plan B, with bigger names like Kyle Tucker still out there.
Hays would be a modest upgrade over some internal depth options, but he’s not the kind of splashy move that usually defines a Yankees offseason. His name coming up does make you wonder:
Either way, Hays showing up on the Yankees’ radar suggests Brian Cashman is at least preparing for a reality where Bellinger isn’t in the Bronx in 2026.
New York Mets: Depth, Versatility, and Plan B Thinking
Across town, the New York Mets are in the Hays conversation too, but their reasons are more about patching holes than making a statement. They’ve lost multiple outfielders to free agency and trades, leaving both a playing-time opportunity and a depth problem.
The Mets are reportedly aiming higher, looking at names like Cody Bellinger and Luis Robert Jr. for a bigger impact. In that light, Hays looks more like a backup plan, but still a meaningful one.
How Hays Would Help the Mets’ Lineup Construction
For the Mets, Hays brings a few things to the table:
He’s not a franchise player, but he’s the type of guy good teams pick up in January or February and end up valuing all summer.
Austin Hays’ Market: Solid Bat, Strong Glove, High Utility
Hays is 30 now. He’s not a star, but he’s a proven big leaguer who just wrapped up a solid year.
He hit .266 with a .315 OBP and a .453 slugging percentage. Add 15 homers, quality defense in left, and some really strong numbers against lefties—pretty much every roster could use that.
The Royals? They could use him as a foundational piece in an outfield that’s, well, not great. For the Yankees and Mets, he’s more of a backup plan in case their bigger moves don’t work out.
Wherever Hays lands, it feels like the kind of under-the-radar signing that might look smarter and smarter as the 2026 season rolls on.
Here is the source article for this story: Yankees Interested, Royals Remain Interested In Austin Hays
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