ZedVlog

On Monday, the Phillies feted Aaron Nola, their longest-tenured player, who now has a chance to pitch more seasons for them than anyone else in franchise history.

A return for their longest-tenured position player, Rhys Hoskins, is far less likely. Philadelphia’s intention to play Bryce Harper at first base necessarily limits their interest in a reunion with Hoskins, who missed last season after suffering a torn ACL late in spring training. Given that a return to the Phillies is unlikely, what does the market look like for Hoskins?

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Earlier this offseason, I projected a one-year, $16.5 million deal for Hoskins, potentially with a club option for a similar amount in 2025. I’d probably take the over on that projection at the moment, given the relative paucity of impact bats available this winter in free agency.

Chicago Cubs

On The Athletic’s breakdown of offseason team needs, only four teams had first base as a need: Chicago, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Washington. Of those four, the Cubs are the only one with a clear plan to win in 2024.

Chicago finished a game out of the postseason this year, then watched the team that edged it win the pennant. Its first basemen compiled a .713 OPS — 23rd in the majors. And that was with 265 plate appearances at the position from Cody Bellinger and Jeimer Candelario, both free agents.

The Cubs could explore other options this winter. Perhaps they aim high in a trade for Pete Alonso. (Alonso was available in the summer, but new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has said he doesn’t anticipate a trade of Alonso this winter.) Maybe they bring back Candelario or hope Christopher Morel can handle first base.

Hoskins would represent the simplest plan for the Cubs, and they would represent the most straightforward fit for Hoskins. He could sign with Chicago and expect to play at least one full season there, which isn’t true of the other teams on this list.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers’ offseason plan isn’t transparent yet. The defending National League Central champs have lost manager Craig Counsell to their rivals, and they non-tendered starter Brandon Woodruff after offseason shoulder surgery. Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames will be free agents at the end of next season. Milwaukee thus has two obvious paths: It can bring everyone back for one last go at it in 2024, hoping for more postseason success; or it can sell off Burnes and Adames and start a quick rebuild now.

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Hoskins could be a fit either way. The Brewers were involved in trade talks for Alonso in the summer, and while Hoskins isn’t the player Alonso is, the logic behind signing him short-term would be the same: Plug a hole at first base with a power-hitting righty who complements the lineup. If Milwaukee is indeed going for it in 2024, then Hoskins is a good addition to a lineup that could use his kind of pop. The Brewers’ combined OPS from first base and DH was the worst in the majors, and — small sample alert! — Hoskins has five homers in nine career games in Milwaukee.

Even if the Brewers suspect they’ll eventually sell, though, they don’t need to do it in the offseason. They can sign Hoskins to a one-year deal and hope to contend, but if things are looking iffy at the deadline, pivot and trade him along with Burnes and Adames.

San Diego Padres

No team had a worse OPS at first base last season than the Padres. Shifting Jake Cronenworth to first right after he signed his extension last spring swiftly lessened his value, and San Diego can move around some pieces (or use the DH) to accommodate Hoskins.

The Padres lineup with Hoskins would look quite a bit like the one he left in Philadelphia, complete with stars through its first two-thirds. Presumably, that unit would cluster its hits in a less infuriating way than it did this past season.

San Diego’s offseason plans aren’t clear yet, either, and they’re complicated by the recent death of owner Peter Seidler. If the Padres must cut payroll, a short-term investment in Hoskins would have to wait until other moves are made.

Boston Red Sox

Triston Casas was a finalist for American League Rookie of the Year, so Boston wouldn’t represent a fit for Hoskins to play first base full-time. But with Justin Turner a free agent, the Sox could use some help at DH, and Hoskins’ right-handed power is a stereotypical fit for Fenway Park. (Hoskins has seven extra-base hits in nine career games there.)

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New chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has mentioned using the club’s slot at DH for multiple players, and Hoskins wouldn’t be a fit if that remains the plan all winter.

Pittsburgh Pirates

While the Pirates aren’t yet a chic pick to arrive as a contender — Cincinnati’s already in their division, after all — they are at the point in their rebuild where adding veteran leaders is useful. Exhibit A: Last winter’s additions of Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Santana.

Hoskins could serve a similar role as Santana did, solidifying what’s still a shallow middle of the order. If everything breaks right and the Pirates look like the team they were in April and May last season, great. If not, a healthy and productive Hoskins could probably fetch more at the deadline than Santana did.

Washington Nationals

After the Cubs non-tendered Kyle Schwarber in 2021, the Nationals were there on a one-year deal. Schwarber mashed, Washington traded him, and he eventually got a big-time deal in free agency. After the Tigers non-tendered Candelario in 2022, the Nats were there on a one-year deal. Candelario mashed, Washington traded him, and he’s in line for a big-time deal in free agency.

Hoskins wasn’t non-tendered, of course, but he’s in a similar boat, looking for a shorter-term deal to get a bigger payday later, and the Nationals have shown themselves to be excellent middlemen in that process. There are worse pitches than pointing to Schwarber, Candelario and Hoskins’ familiarity with the northeast corridor. Don’t tell Hoskins about his .196 average at Nationals Park, though. (Washington was less successful with Dominic Smith, which explains why first base remains a need.)

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies, who should never get a below-average OPS at any position, ranked 21st in baseball last season in OPS at first base (.719). They dealt C.J. Cron at the deadline. They’re considering playing Kris Bryant there, which, like Philly’s decision with Harper, would rule this out as a landing spot. Elehuris Montero, who saw some time at first after the Cron trade, is another internal option at the position.

If Colorado does want to invest in another bat, though, Hoskins could fit the bill. Coming off a 100-loss season and with seemingly no long-term plan, it’s tougher for Colorado to sell Hoskins on its chances to compete right now than most any other team in the National League. It can try to sell him on a pillow contract at altitude, where he can rake for at least four months, maybe make an All-Star team, and hit free agency with better numbers than he’d have elsewhere.

(Top photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today)

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