Let's talk about Austin Hays

[Benjamin Grimm]

He's a 30-year-old free agent, formerly with the Reds. A right-handed-hitting outfielder. Jon Heyman says the Mets are considering signing him to replace Brandon Nimmo in left field.

[Gwreck]

Strictly a bench player. Not exactly a star with the glove, and nothing special with the bat. Useful depth. Laughable to consider him a starter/regular.

[Cowtipper]

It's Mark Canha again.

[Edgy MD]

The Reds might wish he were as good as Mark Canha.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It feels like the Mets are shopping in the Tom Hausman aisle.

[metsmarathon]

I’d sign him to compete for a spot with benge and Williams, and cut him as soon as he didn’t…

Or maybe just skip the part where we pay him altogether.

[Centerfield]

So if you take Jeff McNeil, and make him right handed, then take away all of his versatility and upside, you get Austin Hays. He's -2 OAA since 2024, with a -10 DRS. So he doesn't fit the "run prevention" mold.

Sounds perfect.

[Frayed Knot]

Don't call him youngster Austin Hays, not in his twenties anymore

Not a starter with the Reds in Cincy like he once was in Baltimore

That's all I got

[Lefty Specialist]

Hard pass.

[smg58]

I'd like a righthanded bat in left who could hold the fort until Benge is ready and then still serve in a platoon role afterwards. Hays would fit that description, but Miguel Andujar (.822 OPS last year, including a .944 OPS after the Reds got him at the deadline) would be the better get. His numbers in the outfield aren't spectacular either, but he's still learning the position and he has a plus arm.

[MFS62]

That's all I got

Good enough.

Well done.

He would make a nice platoon piece, if you could provide a decent lefty hitter to be the other half of the platoon. Maybe it will be Benge from game 1.

Later

[ashie62]

Nah

Hays makes Luis Robert look like a Golden God

[The Hot Corner]

More and more, I am starting to fear that Austin Hays or Luis Robert (rather than Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker) will be the offensive upgrade to the Mets outfield. Depressing just to type that. Please let Carson Benge be the real deal and ready come opening day.

[ashie62]

I'm almost certain Stearns will service time Benge and the others into May

[Edgy MD]

I am not sure why that claim is here in the Austin Hays thread, but I have no reason to be certain about that.

Carson Benge has 24 games at AAA, over which time he has hit .178 / .272 / .311 // .583.

The Mets currently have a pretty skeletal crew in the outfield, but if Benge does not break camp with the big-league team, there is no reason to believe that would not be purely a baseball decision. There are simply multiple players currently ahead of him.

[ashie62]

More and more, I am starting to fear that Austin Hays or Luis Robert (rather than Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker) will be the offensive upgrade to the Mets outfield. Depressing just to type that. Please let Carson Benge be the real deal and ready come opening day.

 

It was brought up here

[Edgy MD]

More and more, I am starting to fear that Austin Hays or Luis Robert (rather than Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker) will be the offensive upgrade to the Mets outfield. Depressing just to type that. Please let Carson Benge be the real deal and ready come opening day.

 

It was brought up here

 

So it was. Now I know. Thank you.

Even leaving out the experienced guys ahead of him and sticking with just the comers, there's a good chance that Ryan Clifford, Jett Williams, and even Nick Morabito all arrive before Benge. He could pass them all during Spring Training — they are all about the same age — but the others have had slightly more seasoning and progress.