Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals Mentioned as Potential Fits For Rhys Hoskins
The Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals have been pegged as the best possible fits for free agent slugger Rhys Hoskins by FOX Sports' Rowan Kavner.
Kavner recently broke down where each of the top 11 remaining free agents could land, and he had the Brewers at the top of Hoskins' list. The Nationals came in as the next best fit for Hoskins, per Kavner.
Hoskins did not play in 2023 due to a torn ACL he suffered in March. In his last season before getting hurt, Hoskins hit 30 home runs with 79 RBI in 156 appearances.
After splitting time between first base and left field for his first few MLB seasons, Hoskins served as the Phillies' primary first baseman from 2018 through 2022 postseason. Hoskins racked up 148 home runs, 405 RBI and an 11.1 WAR during his time in Philadelphia.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old is a .242 hitter for his career, and he boasts an .846 OPS on top of that.
According to Spotrac, Hoskins' market value suggests he is in line for a four-year, $84 million contract.
The Brewers, as noted by Kavner, ranked 25th in home runs and slugging percentage last season while also finishing dead-last in OPS from the designated hitter position. While All-Star left fielder Christian Yelich could move to DH to make room for top prospects Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell in the outfield, Milwaukee could instead build out a more veteran lineup by adding Hoskins.
Hoskins could also play first base for the Brewers, with journeyman Jake Bauer and 27-year-old Owen Miller positioned to split time there at the moment.
The Nationals have been tied to Hoskins since the Winter Meetings in December. Since then, the only significant addition to their lineup has been utility man Nick Senzel.
FanGraphs is currently projecting Washington to work with a platoon of Jake Alu and Carter Kieboom at designated hitter to open 2024. The pair average a combined 14 home runs per 162 games over the course of their careers, compared to Hoskins' 36.
Kavner also mentioned the Nationals as the best possible match for Justin Turner, a longtime New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman who is fresh off a bounce back campaign as the Boston Red Sox's designated hitter.
The Brewers, meanwhile, were one of Kavner's backup picks for former San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays veteran Brandon Belt.
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