Could Philadelphia Phillies Pursue Available All-Star First Baseman?
It's been a wild ride at first base for the Philadelphia Phillies through May. Losing Rhys Hoskins so early to a non-contact injury during spring training wasn't ideal. He underwent surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) back in March.
Since then, they've ranked in the bottom five of Major League Baseball in terms of first base depth. The only two players who are active on the chart are Alec Bohm and Kody Clemens. Darick Hall is on the injured list and recovering after surgery on a torn ligament in his thumb.
Phillies manager Rob Thompson said it'll be at least a month before Bryce Harper can take over at first. So with two men available to play at first, adding someone else might be a good idea.
Enter Chicago Cubs first baseman, Eric Hosmer.
Hosmer was designated for assignment by the Cubs before Friday's game against the Phillies. It ended a very anticlimactic tenure with Chicago for the 33-year-old. He was slashing .234/.280/.330 with 14 home runs and 14 RBI.
It's not a surprise as Hosmer has struggled at the plate in 2023. And with the Cubs bringing up prospect Matt Mervis, it's time for Hosmer to roost at another club.
Philadelphia needs someone and Hosmer would be an ideal candidate.
Granted, he is not a fantastic hitter, he is a few ticks below MLB average this season. He's got an extremely groundball approach at the plate but that's not why the Phillies need to pick him up. Having someone else who's actually played first will bolster depth. Bohm is a third baseman who is handed off to play at first and Clemens wasn't even originally on the roster.
You can option Clemens because they have to carry Hosmer. There are ways to make it work if the Phillies want to take the low-risk, low-reward option.
Hosmer will really be someone that can at least be reliable in the infield defensively. He also offers leadership skills and a championship pedigree. The man has a World Series title from his time with the Kansas City Royals, a Silver Slugger, and four Gold Gloves.
Experience is the main thing the Phillies need and for a bargain, adding Hosmer might be the right move.
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