The clock is ticking. With the trade deadline looming closer, the clubs are trying desperately to acquire players who can change the game. A specific Gold Glove third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates has become the apple of the eye. Earlier, it was the Yankees who were targeting him. And now, they have got a a new competitor – the Cubs.

This move might help the Cubs immediately improve their defense. With rookie Matt Shaw showing sparks but being inconsistent, having a seasoned defender provides security and versatility. His excellent stats—97th percentile in fielding run value and 12 outs above average—would improve the Cubs’ infield range and help them save runs in close games.

It might not be a big name, but it’s a smart one. The kind that wins games in October. Here comes Ke’Bryan Hayes. On Saturday, MLB insider Francys Romero said something that could be a wake-up call for genuine contenders: “Several teams are closely monitoring” this third baseman as a possible trade target. The Cubs, Yankees, and Tigers are the leading teams here.

The deal also makes financial sense. The club will incur approximately $7–8 million in costs per year until 2029, with an option for 2030. This means cost-effective control without disrupting much of Chicago’s payroll structure.

Hayes hits more for contact than power, with a slash line of .239/.292/.293, but he’s on a seven-game hitting streak right now (.391/.440/.435), which shows that he’s getting into a groove.

But the Yankees are also interested in him, not just as a way to improve their defense, but also as the long-sought cornerstone at third base. They need stability at the hot corner since Jazz Chisholm Jr. is not very comfortable, and DJ LeMahieu is also not hitting well. On top of that is their slump.

Now the question isn’t who has the money, but it’s about who will pull the trigger first! Because they aren’t the only ones in the race now!

Detroit Tigers joining the deadline hunt

Detroit has quietly joined the race, along with the Yankees and Cubs. The Tigers have made it clear that they want a long-term solution for third base, not a short-term one. That’s where Ke’Bryan Hayes would be a good match.

He has the same exceptional stats on defense that the Yankees and Cubs liked—12 Outs Above Average, a top-notch arm, and good field coverage that Detroit doesn’t have right now. The Tigers’ hot corner has been a revolving door, so adding a consistent defender would be a huge improvement and a significant boost for manager A.J. Hinch’s ideas for the infield.

His team’s deal, which runs through 2029 with a club option for 2030, provides them with security without incurring too much expense. This is good for a franchise that needs to balance spending and winning priorities. The Detroit executive management is already aggressively going for established bats like Alex Bregman or Eugenio Suarez. They would consider Hayes a good addition because he has great defense and might help the offense, too.

If Detroit can unlock even a little part of its latent potential, it might improve both its defense and depth.

So, who do you think will win this race?