The Mets are interested in adding a right-handed bat in free agency.
New York has “internally discussed and has some interest” in outfielder Austin Hays, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported this on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Hays is coming off a bounce-back 2025 in which he hit .266 with a .768 OPS in 103 games with the Reds. It came a year after Hays finished 2024 with an OPS+ of 98 — two points below league average — between the Orioles and Phillies.
What makes Hays intriguing is his ability to hit lefties, as he had a .319/.400/.549 slash line in 105 plate appearances against lefties last season.
Over his career, the one-time All-Star (2023) has an .819 OPS with 25 home runs against left-handed pitchers.
The Mets, even with Pete Alonso, were 17th in the league in slugging percentage against lefties last season.
In what has been a change-filled offseason, the Mets are likely still looking to find their spot in left field after Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers for Marcus Semien in November and Jeff McNeil — who had plenty of outfield experience — was sent to the A’s on Monday to break up most of the team’s long-running core.
As it stands now, the Mets have Juan Soto and Tyrone Taylor in the outfield, and president of baseball operations David Stearns made it clear in November that top prospect Carson Benge will have a chance to make the big club out of spring training.
Last season, Hays split his time between left field (61 games) and design hitter (40 games).
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