The Milwaukee Brewers have made a significant addition to their lineup in free agency. The team has reportedly reached an agreement with former Philadelphia Phillies power hitter Rhys Hoskins on a two-year contract worth $34 million, according to CBS Sports’ MLB insider Jim Bowden. While the Brewers have yet to officially confirm the signing, ESPN’s Jeff Passan points out that there is an opt-out option for Hoskins after the first season.
Hoskins, who will turn 31 in March, faced adversity in 2023 when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury during spring training. However, his rehabilitation progress has been impressive, and he was even considered a potential addition to the World Series roster had the Phillies advanced that far in the playoffs. Hoskins has not seen action in an MLB game since Game 6 of the 2022 World Series.
From 2018 to 2022, Hoskins established himself as one of the premier power hitters in the league, averaging 34 home runs per 162 games with a slash line of .241/.350/.483. This includes a strong performance in 2022, where he posted a .246/.332/.462 line with 30 home runs. Hoskins has been known for his consistent power, ability to draw walks, and positive clubhouse presence since his MLB debut in August 2017.
Despite his injury setback, our own R.J. Anderson ranked Rhys Hoskins as the 13th-best free agent available during this offseason. Anderson’s evaluation took into account Hoskins’ track record:
“Hoskins missed the season after tearing his ACL in March. Unfortunately, he was already facing a dicey free agent market before the injury. For as good as Hoskins is, and he’s amassed a 120 OPS+ or better in five of his six seasons, he’s a right-right first baseman on the stormy side of 30. Teams needn’t look further than José Abreu to see how quickly that profile can crater. (To be fair, Abreu is/was significantly older than Hoskins.) Between the injury and the market’s tepidness for the type, Hoskins would seem like a reasonable candidate to accept a qualifying offer.”
It’s worth noting that the Phillies chose not to extend a qualifying offer to Hoskins earlier in the offseason, which means there is no draft pick compensation tied to his signing.
Before securing Hoskins, the Brewers had decided not to tender a contract to Rowdy Tellez. With the addition of Hoskins, they now have a formidable presence at first base, strengthening their lineup for the upcoming season.