$34M plus covid makes it really tough for someone to want to sign Hayward. I don't see one of the few teams who can, thinking they should pay a multi-year north of $30M for him this fall. Normally,they might do it, but now? Anything less than that and the C's option will likely be close enough for him.
Isn't the smarter play for Hayward to opt in, bet on himself to have a nice season, clear the $34M anvil (which goes in his pocket) off the books and hope the covid cloud starts to clear by next fall? He's the kind of player who is at a level where a minor improvement in perceived value means tens of millions. Why play it out in the worst possible circumstance, maybe ever?