Outfielder Austin Hays, 31, has signed a major league contract with the San Diego Padres. Utility man Gage Workman was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to create a roster spot.
Hays, a right-handed hitter, has only played in 12 games in the 2026 season. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox before the season but has spent most of the year on the injured list with leg injuries. Hays signed a $6 million one-year deal with Chicago on Feb. 4.
The White Sox activated him from the IL on Aug. 5, designated him for
assignment, and released him on Aug. 7. In his 12 games and 43 at-bats, Hays is hitting .233 with a .576 OPS with a home run and seven RBI.
Over his nine-season career, Hays has played for the Baltimore Orioles (2017-2024), Cincinnati Reds, and the White Sox. He has excelled against left-handed pitchers with a career average of .319 against left-handers versus a .255 average against right-handers.
In 2025, with the Reds, Hays played in 103 games. He had a .266 average and .768 OPS with 16 doubles, five triples, 15 homers and 64 RBI. He played both corner outfield spots and served as DH for the Reds. For the White Sox, he played right field and was a DH.
Hays figures to be a bench player for the Padres, specializing as a starter/pinch-hitter versus lefties.
Workman was acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline from the Detroit Tigers along with Casey Mize, in exchange for minor league prospects LHP Kash Mayfield and LHP Jackson Wolf.
The Padres have had a season-long weakness versus left-handed pitchers. The team has a .688 OPS against lefties. At the trade deadline, the Padres were reportedly trying to acquire a left-handed outfielder but were unable to make anything work.
Hays, though not left-handed, provides a valuable upgrade to the bench with Workman, 27, sporting a career .175 average and .558 OPS in his two partial major league seasons (57 at-bats).
Hays was activated before the Padres’ finale against the Houston Astros today. He made himself available to the media prior to the game and expressed a desire to go to the playoffs for the fourth season in a row.
