Pirates Rumors: 2 new contenders enter Ke'Bryan Hayes trade sweepstakes

Unexpectedly, Ke'Bryan Hayes has been a trending name ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline. The Pirates are listening on most players on the roster right now, including a big surprise. It is uncertain what Pittsburgh's plan in a trade involving Hayes would be, as there are numerous teams reportedly interesting. That said, the interest is certainly heating up.

Is Ben Cherington looking for a one-for-one change-of-scenery deal, or a straight up salary dump for a lottery player where another team absorbs all the money Hayes is owed? Even with his elite glove, that .602 OPS is not going to net a big return. Hayes' future is certainly murky inside the organization, and his bat is actively holding the Pirates back.

Despite his lousy offense, a trade feels very possible, with two new teams entering his rumored market. The Yankees have already been a team connected to him previously this month, according to Jon Heyman. Now, Francys Romero is echoing the Yankees' interest, while also including the Tigers and Cubs as other suitors.

The Pirates are reportedly fielding calls from three teams regarding Ke'Bryan Hayes.

Hayes has been heating up at the plate, too. He rode an eight-game hit streak through the weekend, during which he's shown shades of his 2023 second-half swing. Over this stretch, Hayes has three doubles, eight RBI, and is batting .448. On the month, he is batting .304 and his strikeout rate has sat at 19.2%.

He has offensive upside, smacking 53 XBH in 2023. Injuries have derailed his career, preventing him from having consistent power. He has stayed healthy for the entire season thus far, and now that he is finally catching fire with the bat, other teams are showing a willingness to go after him.

His defense this year may get him his second career Gold Glove at a very important position. Hayes' defensive numbers are outstanding, including 10 DRS and 11 OAA. He leads all MLB third baseman in DRS by four.

The Cubs and Pirates have been extremely active in trade talks recently. Bob Nightengale stated in his latest article that the two franchises are in serious trade talks regarding Mitch Keller. They have also discussed David Bednar, per Nightengale, and now Hayes. A big trade within the NL Central could be on the horizon, with three players now on Chicago's radar.

As surprising as it is to hear about Hayes having a somewhat active market, the Pirates have a big decision to make. If they proceed with a Hayes trade, their options are not great, as Jared Triolo is a Hayes duplicate and the free agent class is boom or bust. Pittsburgh cannot afford the big bats on the market, and the other options are all below average, so any plan after a potential trade might be worse than holding on to these two. This next month will be very interesting, especially if Hayes' bat continues to heat up, leaving Cherington with a really difficult decision.