White Sox sign OF Austin Hays to 1-year, $6M deal

The Chicago White Sox agreed to a one year, $6 million free-agent contract Wednesday with former All-Star outfielder Austin Hays..

The deal pays Hays $5 million this coming season, with an $8 million mutual option for 2027 or a $1 million buyout.

In a corresponding move, Chicago designated left-handed reliever Bryan Hudson for assignment.

Hays, 30, batted .266 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs in 103 games with the Cincinnati Reds last season.

An American League All-Star in 2023, Hays is a career .262 hitter with 83 homers and 312 RBIs in 682 games with the Baltimore Orioles (2017, 2019-24), Philadelphia Phillies (2024) and Reds (2025).

Baltimore selected Hays in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Jacksonville University.

Hudson, 28, went a combined 0-1 with a 4.80 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 13 walks in 15 innings over 16 relief appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers and White Sox last season.

He is 6-2 lifetime with a 2.83 ERA, 88 strikeouts and 34 walks in 86 innings over 65 relief appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2023), Brewers (2024-25) and White Sox, who selected him off waivers from Milwaukee on Aug. 3.

--Field Level Media