Report: Pirates to Sign 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes to Eight-Year, $70 Million Deal

Pittsburgh has made an investment in its third baseman of the future.

Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes agreed to the largest deal in team history on Thursday, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray. 

The deal is for eight years and $70 million, surpassing the Pirates’ previous largest deal of $60 million signed by Jason Kendall in 2000. Hayes’s contract also has a club option for a ninth season.

Hayes’ $70 million guarantee is the largest contract in Pirates history and the largest guarantee ever signed by a player with at least 1 and less than 2 years of service time. Hayes is represented by Scott Lonergan of The Ballengee Group.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) April 7, 2022

Hayes, 25 finished his second season on the Pirates with 49 runs and 38 RBI in 96 games. He dealt recurring left hand and wrist injuries last season, and he expects to play on Thursday despite rolling his ankle during this year’s spring training. 

Quick injury update on Ke’Bryan Hayes: He will hit in some live BPs against Kranick, Oviedo and De Jong today. Ankle is feeling better, everything looks good for an opening day start. If it was the regular season, he said he might have tried to play through it.

— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) April 2, 2022

The Pirates finished last in the National League Central division last season with a record of 61—101.