Baltimore Orioles Outfielder Hopes to Break Contract Trend
The Baltimore Orioles don't have a good track record of extending their young players recently, which is surprising for a low-payroll team.
Normally, teams that spend less make more of an effort to lock up their young stars to team-friendly deals, but the Orioles have fallen short in this regard.
That could be about to change soon, however.
Not only does Baltimore have a new ownership group that's likely to spend more, but there's also one player in particular who's pushing for an extension.
If he gets it, it could help set a precedent for his teammates and future generations of Orioles players.
Baltimore outfielder Austin Hays has been vocal about his desire for an extension this offseason, and he hasn't changed his tune now that Spring Training has started, according to Danielle Allentuck of The Baltimore Banner.
Hays, 28, is still under team control for two more seasons before he becomes a free agent. He isn't interested in reaching free agency, however, and wants to remain with the Orioles -- the only MLB organization he's ever known.
He was drafted by Baltimore in 2016 and debuted the following year. He endured several rough seasons during the early phase of his career before helping the Orioles turn things around recently.
Hays made his first All-Star team in 2023 and has established himself as a quality outfielder, averaging 18 home runs, 66 RBIs and a .752 OPS over the past three seasons.
With Baltimore coming off a 101-win season and poised for continued success, Hays doesn't want to miss out on being part of a potential dynasty.
He is solid, but he's not irreplaceable.
The Orioles should focus on extending franchise centerpieces like Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman before locking up a complementary player like Hays.
That said, if he's willing to accept a hometown discount to stick around, there's nothing wrong with tacking on a few more years to his contract, especially if it encourages his teammates to follow suit.
