“Ke’Bryan is the type of core player who is a winner on the field, a leader in the clubhouse and engaged in our community. He is the type of player who makes a true difference in the direction of our organization.
“Today isn’t about a contract, its length, or the terms. Today is about our firm belief in Ke’Bryan as a player and person, and our organization putting a stake in the ground moving forward.”
That’s what Pittsburgh Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said about third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes on April 12th, 2022. That day, the club had signed Hayes to an uncharacteristically lengthy and expensive contract extension worth $70 million over eight years, keeping under team control through 2029, with a club option for 2030.
Hayes was portrayed as a cornerstone part of the next generation of winning Pirates teams, locking down the hot corner with one of the best defensive gloves in the game and giving the Pirates a long-term face to put in their lineup.
Even if the 2022 season would prove to be another painful season (the team lost 100 games), securing a major piece of the puzzle was a win that year.
It wasn’t supposed to end this way.
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