Cubs get their first look at the Reds' big trade deadline pickup on Monday

Rumored to be a suitor in the Eugenio Suarez sweepstakes, the Cincinnati Reds instead pivoted to a stellar defensive third baseman who, at least according to some, was a name the Chicago Cubs kicked around pre-deadline in Ke'Bryan Hayes.

The Cubs are obviously familiar with Hayes. Up until last week, he'd played his entire six-year MLB career with the NL Central's Pittsburgh Pirates, so he matched up against Chicago regularly. Cincinnati enters Monday's series opener at Wrigley Field with a 10 percent chance of making the postseason - so it'll take a heater down the stretch to get it done, and they're hoping Hayes can be a big part of any potential late-season surge.

“I’m excited for a new chapter," Hayes told MLB.com after the deal was made official. “That’s why we play this game, to play in the playoffs and ultimately win a World Series. If you’re not playing to win, why are you playing?"

I wouldn't call the Reds a perennial contender, but they're certainly more of one than the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, whose ownership group seems destined to waste the prime years of NL Cy Young front-runner Paul Skenes for the rest of the decade. As for Hayes, it's a badly needed fresh start. A former top prospect for the Bucs, the shine has come off a bit in recent years, especially at the dish.

Ke'Bryan Hayes is trying to replicate his early-career success

After getting his first taste of big-league action in 2020, Hayes averaged 3.6 bWAR annually from 2021 to 2023, finishing sixth in NL Rookie of the Year voting and winning a Gold Glove during that span. But since the start of the 2024 season, the 28-year-old has been a complete liability offensively, slashing just .235/.280/.294 over his last 800 plate appearances.

So what should we expect in this series? Against the Cubs in his career, Hayes is 5-for-24 (.208) - with all five of his hits being singles. He's just 2-for-12 (.167) at the Friendly Confines, although he has been better against righties than lefties and Chicago will turn to deadline addition Michael Soroka, a right-hander, in Monday's series opener.

Given the Cubs had some level of interest in Hayes - and the fact he'll be with the Reds, presumably, through the end of his $70 million contract that runs through 2029, it's a good time to check in on him as Chicago looks to create some momentum coming off Sunday's exciting walk-off win over Baltimore that came courtesy of a Justin Turner home run in the ninth.