Failed White Sox signing's Padres debut immediately casts his departure in a different light

When the White Sox signed outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year deal this past offseason, the team hoped he’d be a study offensive veteran presence in a young, unproven outfield. Pretty much from the get go, however, things didn’t go as planned. Just nine games into the season, Hays pulled up chasing a fly ball in left field and exited the game with a hamstring strain. That was the beginning of the end of Hays’ time in Chicago. Four months later, Hays is wearing a different uniform and making an impact in his first game with his new team. 

After missing three weeks in April, Hays returned to the lineup at the end of the month. His return lasted just three games before a calf strain put him back on the shelf, and a setback during his rehab made it an extended absence. With the performance of Randal Grichuk in Hays’ absence and the desire to get at bats for young outfielders Sam Antonacci, Tristan Peters, and Braden Montgomery, the White Sox decision for the final roster spot seemed to be coming down to Everson Pereira and Austin Hays. Instead, the White Sox completed a surprise trade for Rockies OF Brenton Doyle and moved on from both players. Pereira was claimed on waivers by the St Louis Cardinals, and Hays signed a big league deal with the San Diego Padres after his release. 

Moving on from both Pereira and Hays was not only a surprise, but it put the White Sox outfield in a precarious position. Their depth seemed more depleted than ever before, and a lot of their success would be determined by whether or not they could fix Brenton Doyle. The signing of Joey Wiemer to a minor league deal helps, but I’d be lying if I said Hays’ immediate impact on the Padres didn’t make me roll my eyes. 

The White Sox chose Randal Grichuk over Austin Hays, are they correct?

The decision wasn’t necessarily Hays vs. Doyle. Doyle is a center fielder by trade and he more naturally fits as a platoon option for Tristan Peters and a replacement for Everson Pereira on the roster. Instead the decision seemed to be Grichuk over Hays. The White Sox were faced with the same decision this offseason and chose to sign Hays, but picked up Grichuk after Hays’ injury and Randal’s slow start with the Yankees led to his release. In 64 games with the White Sox, Grichuk has hit nine home runs and posted an .864 OPS, mostly against left-handed pitching. He went through a bit of a slump in July, hitting just .231, but he’s 5-for-16 so far in August. 

The decision to move on from Hays was understandable and probably unavoidable, but should he continue to play good baseball for the Padres, it’s going to sting. How badly it hurts will depend on the production the White Sox receive from Randal Grichuk for the rest of the year. 

Was choosing Randal Grichuk over Austin Hays a poor decision for the White Sox? Maybe. It’s far too early to make that kind of declaration, but Hays’ early success is certain to make White Sox fans shake their heads regardless.

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