January 26: The Associated Press relays the full contract breakdown. Hoskins will make $12MM this year and will be slated for a salary of $18MM in 2025. If he decides to opt out after 2024, he will get a $4MM buyout. The mutual option for 2026 is valued at $18MM and there’s a $4MM buyout on that as well.
January 23: The Brewers announced they have signed free agent first baseman Rhys Hoskins to a two-year deal with an opt-out after 2024 and a mutual option for 2026. It is reportedly a $34MM guarantee for the client of the Boras Corporation.
Hoskins takes a modified pillow contract after missing the entire 2023 season. At the tail end of Spring Training, he tore the ACL in his left knee while retreating to the outfield grass to field a chopper. While he was able to take batting practice by the end of the season, he never quite made it back to the roster. Philadelphia suggested Hoskins may have been activated from the injured list had they advanced to the World Series.
With the Phils coming up a game short of the Fall Classic, the ACL tear marked an unfortunate end to a productive tenure at Citizens Bank Park. Hoskins seemed a potential candidate for the qualifying offer at the beginning of the offseason. The Phils opted against the QO, declaring they were moving Bryce Harper to first base permanently. That made clear Hoskins was headed elsewhere after nearly a decade in the organization.
The Phillies initially selected him in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. Despite the modest draft stock, he hit the ground running in pro ball. He posted huge minor league numbers, mashing his way to the big leagues in the second half of the 2017 campaign.
That excellent production on the farm presaged strong numbers against MLB pitching. Hoskins raked at a .259/.396/.618 clip with 18 home runs over his first 50 games. While he didn’t maintain that pace over any subsequent season, he has been a consistent middle-of-the-lineup presence in Philadelphia.
Hoskins hit between 27 and 34 home runs in his four full seasons between 2018-22. He was on a similar pace in the shortened season, connecting on 10 longballs in 41 games. He has paired that with a walk rate above 10% in every year of his career. That power and patience gives him a solid offensive floor, even if he hasn’t hit above .250 in any season since his rookie year.
Since 2018, Hoskins has posted a .241/.350/.483 batting line. He strikes out in roughly a quarter of his plate appearances. That’s slightly higher than the league average but hardly outlandish, particularly for a player who hits for the kind of power he does. Hoskins has destroyed left-handed pitching at a .250/.399/.522 clip in his career. His .240/.336/.482 slash versus same-handed arms isn’t quite as impressive but remains solidly above average.
The offense carries the overall profile. Hoskins doesn’t offer much as a baserunner. He has graded as a slightly below-average defender throughout his career. It’s unlikely his defense will improve as he’s into his 30s and working back from a significant knee injury.
That’s fine for the Brewers, who needed an offensive upgrade. Milwaukee ranked 17th in runs last season, a subpar figure for a team that plays its home games at hitter-friendly American Family Field. By measure of wRC+, which adjusts for park, Milwaukee ranked 24th in overall hitting production. That was the worst of any playoff team.
First base was particularly problematic. Milwaukee received a dismal .231/.292/.389 showing from the bat-first position. That led the Brew Crew to non-tender Rowdy Tellez. Milwaukee acquired Carlos Santana at the deadline to stabilize first base for the stretch run. The Brewers have remained in contact with Santana this winter, but they’ll instead jump on the opportunity for a more significant lineup upgrade.
The contract aligns with MLBTR’s prediction of two years and $36MM. A few priority rebound targets have landed a two-year guarantee with an opt-out in recent offseasons. That’s appealing for the player, who locks in more security than they’d have received on a straight one-year pact while still allowing them to get back to free agency after one season.
Hoskins’ deal nearly matches the two-year, $36MM pact which Michael Conforto signed with the Giants last winter after missing the ’22 season rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Players like Josh Bell (two years, $33MM) and Lucas Giolito (two years, $38.5MM) have signed similar pacts after terrible finishes to their respective platform seasons. This contract structure isn’t attainable for every bounceback candidate, but it’s one that higher-ceiling free agents of that ilk are increasingly able to secure.
The specific salary structure hasn’t been reported. If the deal guarantees Hoskins $17MM in each season, it’d push Milwaukee’s payroll projection around $122MM, as calculated by Roster Resource. That’s marginally above last year’s $119MM Opening Day mark. Milwaukee’s payroll slate remains manageable even with Hoskins joining Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames (each of whom will make more than $12MM in their final arbitration seasons) on the books.
If Hoskins picks up where he left off before the injury, he’d likely join Burnes and Adames on next year’s free agent market. As with Burnes and Adames, Hoskins would be a candidate for a qualifying offer if he exercises the opt-out. He remains eligible for the QO since Philadelphia opted against the offer this winter. Milwaukee doesn’t have to forfeit any draft picks to add him.
Pete Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt and Christian Walker could all join Hoskins in an interesting first base class next winter. The remaining options for teams this offseason isn’t as robust. Beyond outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger, the top first basemen still unsigned are Brandon Belt, Santana, Garrett Cooper and Joey Votto.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported that the two parties were closing in on a two-year, $34MM deal with an opt-out next winter (X link). Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that they’d finalized the agreement.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Nice!
Rob Manfred prevented the Guardians from signing Hoskins.
Because that makes a lot of sense.
Did Manfred also steal your tin foil hat OIC? Give it a rest dude
Hey now. People doubted Bart Simpson when he thought MLB was spying on Springfield using a giant satellite, but he was proven correct.
That’s a ton of money for someone who hasn’t played since 2022
There’s no guarantee he can come back 100% this year
If he was healthy last season, he’d probably have got a 4yr deal where Milw would have been out of the bidding. Clubs we can see are also paying 8 figure salaries for washed up/injured/below avg starters…..so teams have to trade good prospects if they want to avoid the high FA prices. No “bargains” until maybe March for FA’s (not so much trades).
If pigs had wings they would fly
Fact is he wasn’t healthy last year and there’s no guarantee he will be this year either regardless of the current overpay of players
There is no guarantee on any player. Maybe you can tell them what decent power bat/1B they should have signed instead at a lower price than 2/34. They chose spending over prospect loss.
Just because an animal has wings, it doesn’t mean it can fly. Look at the ostrich, penguin, kiwi bird, emu, and several other flightless birds. None of them can fly. Your “if pigs had wings they would fly” argument is flawed at best.
Good for the Brewers!
Padres, again passing on players!
Smh
#punting2024
Could a very bad year for the Pads.
Meh.
I can’t believe it took him this long to figure out that was all he was gonna get. Well at least it finally dawned on Boras.
I mean it didn’t really take that long. Truly confused why people keep implying this off-season has been much slower then most. When in reality it’s just like all the winters in MLB recently.
Master stroke by Boras. The Brewers were never in play for Bellinger and he just took almost everyone’s plan B off the table while getting Hoskins a very fair deal.
I find it interesting the Angels are loading up on relievers. New GM, same old dysfunction. When will they realize they are not a good team and need to embrace a full rebuild?
Boras just guaranteed Hoskins $34MM, even if he has a horrible year after missing a season due to injury. A good year? He can opt out and make way more. A variation on his pillow contract he made famous by some guy elected to the HOF yesterday.
@uncle I wouldn’t say it really took him that long. Good amount of people wait until January just to let the market clear up. If anything, he may have just been waiting until Bellinger signed to see if he got any better deals after, but Boras may have indicated that Bellinger wasn’t close to a deal just yet.
Yeah this has been characteristic of what one might call “the Boras era”. Not that it only happens with Boras clients but it’s a trend that was set in motion by them. It’s also on a more basic level a sign of the diminished importance of the Winter meetings and in person meetings in general.
I wouldn’t mind the Padres getting Santana.
Ervin or Dennis??
Carlos.
Gotta find some way to keep the mood up in San Diego.
Trumbo–Drascoo- I can’t say I’m really all that disappointed that Hoskins didn’t sign with the Cubs. What was disappointing was that he signed with the Brewers and makes them better if he returns to form. Wonder if this was Boras giving Jed the finger?
Could be?! COULD BE!?! Ahahaha!
Probably the most impactful signing of the off season. This was THE need of the Brewers and they got the best available FA. Even Ohtani was more of a want then a need, as JDM was perfectly fine as a dh. Rhys is a massive upgrade over what they had.
It is a good calculated risk for Milw FO that has to take such shots with a limited budget. That said, 31yo power guy coming off an ACL tear is not a slam dunk by any stretch. Hope he stays healthy.
Nice deal for them, I like it. Screw the brewers.
What did they do to you? lol
Crush the Pirates every time.
Fair- lol.
For the record, a lot of teams crush the pirates the last decade.
@cdouglas24000 you seem to have dropped the “s” you meant to put on the end of “decade”.
Crazy that less than a decade ago the pirates had
Gerrit Cole
Francisco Lirano
Charlie Morton
J.A Happ
AJ Burnett( end of his career.)
That’s a pretty solid starting rotation. 9 years ago the Pirates won 98 games.
@cdouglas, there were a couple years us Brewers fans really looked forward to Pirates series because we dominated them that much. At one point we had a 17 game winning streak over them. In 2008 we went 14-1 on the season against them. It’s kinda fizzled a bit, but I can see why a pirates fan would hate us lol
the last decade includes the year 2014 when the Pirates won 98 games
Do you ever proofread your comments before posting them?
And what about the decades of no playoffs prior to those couple of years?
They won 98 games in 2015. 15′-’23 is 9 years. Less than a decade.
They were just singing “We Are Family”
Yeah, and under …500 against the rest of their schedule.
The comment was about the last decade, or are you blind?
And adding an “s” to the end of “decade” makes what?
Sorry if a joke about a team that had a 21 year playoff drought prior to 2013 and numerous bad seasons afterwards offends you. Try looking toward the future.
Nice signing to fill out the roster.
That’s not Justin Smoak
This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Smoak hit only 5 HR as a Brewer, but 1 is my favorite baseball audio clip of the Covid season. Hopefully this link works, you have to click on “Justin Smoak’s 2 run HR” and turn the audio up. It’s a beauty. Dong!!! mlb.com/gameday/brewers-vs-pirates/2020/08/23/6311…
1 penny per year paid up front, $33,999,999.98 Deferred until the expansion of the sun.
I found this so it looks like it expands [and contracts] frequently thereby eliminating deferrals: “Watching the wobbling Sun: The Sun expands and contracts by a few tens of metres every five minutes or so. To measure these tiny vibrations, teams of astronomers have to watch continually around the globe. vibrations from the stars’, they need to observe and measure the oscillations.” This was from newscientist.com.
Right, that’s the real joke of it. I’m one of the 1s who discovered this.
Thanks for everything you did for Philly, Rhys.
That bat flip/chuck was epic
The 34 second trot around the bases on his HR vs the Mets was the best memory in my mind. That was a legendary slam to the Mets and their fans.
Excellent signing here, rounds out there roster with an all around solid ball player. Nice work here Brew Crew
Excellent move. He’s gonna come back strong and rake
Yep! As he always did in Philly. Rake on a HR streak for one week a month and then slump the other three weeks a month throughout the season.
Well considering that described half the Phillies lineup in 2023 (without Hoskins), that may be a Phillies problem more than anything else.
Half the 2023 Phillies team slumped like Hoskins did year after year?
Castellanos – Hit all season until the last series of the playoffs.
Turner – Slumped only until he received his standing ovation in August.
Schwarber – Hits and when he isn’t hitting he’s being walked. If walks could be calculated into AB/Hits, he would have a .339 batting average.
Harper – He’s just a beast when the spotlight is on.
Stott – I only recall a little slump. Topper was the one who kept sitting him for lefties, when he was still hitting lefties uncharacteristically.
Bohm – Slumped occasionally, but not a regular 3 weeks a month every month.
Which 2023 team were you watching and basing that comment on? The Diamondbacks series in the playoffs? But I can’t say that was true for half the team the whole 2023 season.
Look at the month to month stats of a lot of Phillies players. When they were hot, they were on fire. When they were cold, they were ice cold. Castellanos had one of the coldest stretches of the season in the 2nd half. Turner slumped early. Harper is a beast but went through a huge cold spell last year. Schwarber was an automatic out for a month.
They’re a streaky team. They were unbeatable in the playoffs until everyone stopped hitting at the same time.
They were unbeatable in the playoffs until they saw they were hitting home runs. Then they all went into “swing for the fences” on every pitch mode. That’s what throws them into those slumps.
They need to relax and just hit the ball normally. Not try to crush it on every swing.
Schmidt did it back in the day, and commented many a times when asked was he looking to hit a HR? No, I was trying to make contact and just hit the ball.
He’ll fit right in with the Brewers then…
I like this a lot for them
This is a good fit. Hoskins is a great bat albeit streaky.
Brewers lineup is young and streaky. Team could go into long slumps of scoring 2 runs a game again or 8 runs depending on if they’re slumping at the same time
Hoskins will be used to that, playing for some streaky Phillies teams. What I love about Hoskins even more than the power is his ability to make pitchers work. When he’s seeing the ball well, he walks at a good clip. He’ll be a great clubhouse guy for this young Brew Crew.
His ability to work counts will help the Brewers, especially with those young outfielders like Wiemer and Mitchel swinging at everything and Adames inability to work counts. He’ll probably hit 3rd or 4th behind Yellich
It’s very doubtful wiemer will see much playing time. He’s ticketed for AAA probably all season
@ RayKingsThickThighs Or if they got their steroid fix that time they’re streaking as a power team? Aka Ryan Braun power surges.
I am happy for the Brewers , happy for their fans. Some positive news!!
Brewers definitely the favorites by me until proven otherwise to win the NL Central. This is a pretty fair deal, Milwaukee did good here.
Ugh, this was something Hoyer could have done. Cubs need a power bat either through trade (Josh Naylor) or re-sign Bellinger.
I don’t believe Hoyer was looking for another RH bat, for an already RH heavy lineup.
Hoyer needs to get a free agent or get a bat through a trade. This offseason can’t end with just Shota Imanaga, which I very much liked. Hoyer can wait out the likes of Bellinger all he likes, but if he doesn’t add a power hitter this offseason, this is going to be a tough start to the year.
Busch!!
Hopefully Busch becomes the hitter he is at the big league level, he’d be the answer to 1B or CF.
Do you mean DH?
Lol Michael Busch in Center Field might be the funniest thing I’ll see all season if it happens.
This move by Boras for Hoskins. Is designed to get Bellinger moving and to 8+ years and over $200 million. Bellinger is the top remaining free agent and Boras knows it.
I say Cubs pass on it. 6 yrs 25 million with insensitive and opt outs. No way I give hard contract to Cody at 8 yrs 240 million. That is what Boras wants
I think Cincy will have something to say about that. I think the Reds will go on another big hot streak again. If their pitching holds up, I say the Reds win the NL Central.
Decent signing.
My projections:
PA: 600
BA: 0.248
OBP: 0.338
Hits: 132
K: 151
BB: 67
HR: 33
And Fangraphs projects a 2.0 WAR.
Hopefully we can get some guys on base ahead of an actual masher for once. I’d like to see a better OBP, but really just hoping the guy can stay healthy and consistent; any more than your projection would be icing.
So the Brewers have a DH. Now who plays 1B?
With all of the young Outfielders on the Brewers i imagine Christian Yelich will see significant time at DH, which means Hoskins will see significant time at 1B with Jake Bauers getting time there as well
I suspect Contreras will get 1 game/week at DH again as well.
It was a joke. Hoskins is among the worst defensive 1B in the game.
Jesse Winker of course!!!! Poor Jesse, everyone has already bailed on him months ago. COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR !!!
Man, what happened to the poor guy? It is like he fell off a cliff. I feel bad for him just on a human level, from him being traded out of Cincy to being the butt of jokes in the Seattle clubhouse (allegedly)..
He came here to Milwaukee, where good hitters forget how.
Good call for the Brewers. Their first base situation and the offense as a whole are question marks. Hoskins can at least hit, which is in short supply in Milwaukee.
One week a month he’ll hit .500 and hit 5 HR’s then the other 3 weeks a month he’ll hit .200 and maybe 1 HR. Enjoy his once a month streaks!
Beats the 4 weeks of slump they were getting out of the position.
I’d rather take that than what we had last season with rowdy Tellez
Last season? Aside from a short streak when he was first acquired, Tellez was terrible his whole tenure in milwaukee, guy hit 35hrs but barely had an above leave average OPS ‘22, Would’ve been better keeping Chris Carter..
That will make him 1 of the top hitters on the team.
i’m glad i’m not the only one who sees hoskins for what he is. you are spot on about the 1 week hot streaks. i’ve been saying that for the last 2 years or so. his injury in spring training was addition by subtraction and i celebrated (as a phillies phan, not a monster) that injury as i watched that game
Yes!! About time!! Now I’m not gonna get to sleep, lol. Woot!
Wow! I thought they were broke.
Are those soft tacoshells or hard?? Corn or flour ??? Asking for a friend.
They’re hard so hard. Come feel.
You’re the one with a dirty mind, not me.
PS my friends kneecap was busted because of Rhy’s numbers (didnt live up to the numbers my friend bet on him and then my friend couldn’t pay his bookie), so thanks for that.
Pictures or it didn’t happen
‘You can lead a horse to water ‘
No horses in baseball man. Unless you’re thinking of that one episode of Mr. Ed when Wilbur made him wear a baseball cap.
That’ll happen..
This is a really good signing. Hoskins was one of the better values in free agency, seeing as he was always likely to only require a one or two year deal with an opt out, like the one he got. He’s coming off injury and is mediocre defensively, but he was one of the top bats in a weak free agent class for hitters, and is a legitimate middle of the order slugger who I feel has always been a tad bit underrated. I felt like more teams should have been in on him, and I expected him to get closer to $40 million, so the Brewers did good here. I think they are going to be somewhat sneakily a pretty solid team next season.
Reese thank you very much you meant a lot to this team hate to see you go but I wish you nothing but success all the other times when you’re not playing the Phillies
I’m glad the Cubs didn’t sign him, for a few reasons. First, it could take Hoskins some time to get back into top form, after his layoff. But most of all, this is a sign that they will be giving opportunities to some of their home grown talent – or possibly expect Belli back on a short term deal. And I stress, short term.
Belli will be back. It’s a match made in heaven.
Hot stove is hot! Feels like November around here !!!
January is the new November.
It kind of is.
Brewers certainly need a solid right handed bat. I assume if he does very well, he will opt out and if not the Brewers would be stuck with a second season. As a Brewer fan I okay with it.
You’re up Jed. Time to sign Belli.
I mean it made sense as a speculative fit, but I kind of never got the feeling they’d actually DO it.
Sounds like another run at contention behind Adames/Woodruff/Williams/Contreras and crew
Did you mean Burnes instead of Woodruff? Woodruff is out for all of next season and got non-tendered, but it does look like they’ll be hanging onto Burnes, at least for 2024.
Pretty sure you mean Burnes there as Woody is still a free agent and likely won’t play in ‘24 regardless. I’m still a bit shocked they haven’t traded Burnes; settling for offering the QO and getting a comp pick is a bit underwhelming compared to what he could garner in a trade before the season. Signs point to a contending season in a weak central, so you can’t expect a deadline trade.
HBAN and Kripes, you’re both right. I meant Burnes but my point stays the same.
Good move! Solid hitter really makes a pitcher work I believe he was the lead leader in pitches seen in 22 if he’s healthy he’s a lock for 30 HRS and 90-100 BB he’s a leader in the clubhouse streaky hitter but when he’s hot he can carry a team for a couple weeks I’ve seen it with my phillies you guys got a good one I hope he has a huge bounce back season
The reds aren’t doing enough…
What did Einstein say was the definition of insanity?
I’m pretty sure it was Mark Twain that said that.
They had the same hair.
Seems like a very brewers move to me… idk why, just a gut feeling that this will benefit them a lot. For what it’s worth, I thought the angels should have taken a flier on him.
So long Rhys. So long.
Do it the dodger way and defer all but one penny
Good for Hoskins & good for the Brewers‼️
1.8 WAR average gets him $17 million AAV
His WAR gets bogged down by his subpar defense, but the guy has proven himself as a legitimate middle of the order hitter and is a leader in the clubhouse.
The guy is solid or more….when healthy. They now need a third baseman.who can hit. Hope Woodruff comes back some how.
Justin Turner would be great!!
i believe they want to give tyler black a legit shot to win 3b. but turner would be a good option because of his versatility
Giants fans must be really feeling depressed about now. Well there’s still Luke Voit out there and Brandon Belt as well as Eric Hosmer.
No need for a DH..
Already too many on the roster.
Not at all.
Seems like a great guy in the clubhouse too.
He is a great clubhouse guy. The Phillies will miss his glue guy personality. Shame we didn’t have a place for him with Harp moving to 1B. Wish him the best when he’s not playing us.
The Cubs are obviously out on all the FA bats out there. I just read where they are going to start moving Caissie to give him reps at 1B giving them 2 LH bats there in the future, Busch and Caissie. Caissie was going to start at AAA anyway probably and he’ll probably play some 1B with McGeary in a platoon there I’m guessing. At last somebody is doing something I suggested. Caissie is still only 20 so he has room to grow. McGeary is another bat without a position like Morel. He’s no defensive whiz either. I sincerely doubt that Bellinger is getting anywhere near Wrigley except as a visitor. I guess they would rather just take the draft pick. I told them to just play the kids last year they spent. Now this year it seems they’re going to play the kids. I’m just confused at this point, If they want improvement trading seems their way to go.
UncleMike relax, Belli will be back. The match is too perfect. The rest of the potential fits are all less than stellar. They just need to finish their little courting dance and get the price down a smidgen so both sides can come out feeling like winners.
SOB- I’m starting to get more and more skeptical every day. There are so many other cheaper and more reasonable ways to go. I still think they’ll sign a couple more relievers, But as far as bats go, I seriously doubt any FA’s are coming. Getting younger and having more flexibility isn’t really a bad thing necessarily.
Uncle, you’re just too humble sometimes. I have no doubt that Jed and Hawkins read these comments everyday anxiously waiting to become enlightened by what moves you suggest. They’d be lost without your advise lol.
I know right? LOL Other than taking a megaphone over to Jed’s house and blurting on his front lawn this is all I got. As far as Carter goes, I still have no idea exactly what he does yet.
Cubs have upcoming Gallagher way real estate payments to make and can’t afford baseball free agents now.
Wow that’s a nice contract for a 30 something 1B/DH coming off a very serious knee injury. Opt out is pure gold for him. If he gets hurt again or seriously declines, he opts in. If he plays well he’s gone. I think I might have traded for my 1B if I’m Milwaukee, used that cash on another hitter.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the brewers still go after another bat… hoskins will probably still get a chunk of time at first, however i could see them starting him out as a DH and ease him back into the field
I guess tellez got too rowdy at the buffet and is now out of a job. Instead the brewers will snack on Rhys’s pieces.
Rowdy, Manoah, Alejandro Kirk, and Vogelbach are total bullies at the Golden Corral…especially with the bacon. Good luck getting any bacon if you’re in there with them.
All wearing Blue Jays gear.
Could turn out to be one of the steals of the off-season
Or one of the busts of the off-season if his hitting is fully affected from the knee surgery.
It’s alright. Similar to Josh Bell contract. Both closer to dh than 1b. Fair market price. Would they been better off with Rowdy and 13 14m? I’d rather have Rowdy Perez Gonzales.
Rowdy over Bell? Idk DreamGM….
I said Rowdy over Hoskins. But over Bell as well. Will they be better. Probably. Significantly better could be. 14 million better. I don’t think so.
Seems like an overpay. If he’s playing first I get it. Maybe they had to pay up a bit to get what they need. He’s a good hitter obviously. I’m really just surprised they had to go 2 years but I assume lots of teams would’ve done something like 1/16. If not for injury I’d totally get it as they need the thump at 1B. He can’t really afford to be any less mobile than he already is so we’ll see how he recovers.
The Dodgers didn’t want him.
This should mean Adames and Burnes are staying put.
I guess they aren’t being Rowdy any more.
I would have been happy with Santana. Even better, Hoskins is not a Cub. This signing puts the Crew as the favorite to repeat as NL Central champs once again. We resigned Miley and filled the Rowdy void. With the youth movement, anything else this offseason is a bonus. Nice job Matt Arnold.
I’m patiently waiting for Cub fans to hit the panic button (I’m a Cub fan). It was one thing when the Cubs were not making moves when the majority of the targets were just not signed but now guys they targeted/should have been targeting are starting to come off the board (not that Hoskins was a high priority with Busch at first).
Chapman off the board to a division rival. Stephenson off the board (over pay I think). Moore off the board. Hader, I never wanted, off the board. If the Cubs offseason consists of an inconsistent reliever, a prospect and Imanaga, fans are going to be mad and I’ll be one of them.
Owners are rolling in cash.
This guy was at the top of this Brewer fan’s realistic wish list. Thanks to Amazon for salvaging the team’s TV revenue and making this signing possible.
…but, dammit, I’m still waiting for them to deliver my order from last week!
“Destroyed” might be an overstatement for a platoon OPS of .921 with half of the games coming in Philly.
I hope Rhys hits 34 home runs this year
Boras is feeling puffy now this morning on the Bellinger/Chapman negotiations with other clubs.
He was getting bored dragging out the handful of teams discussing Snell and Montgomery.
It’s there that 3rd baseman from Minnesota twins that’s a free agent contact hitter to pretty good defensive 3 Rd baseman the cubs might try to get him they want more contact I believe unless they sign Chapman and hes a strike dude but great defense I think the twins free agent will do good until bush gets more under his belt because Busch can. Rake
Polanco? If so, he’s still got a couple years of control and usually plays 2B,but does play 3rd too, though not sure how well defensively.
wants major league ready pitching in return. So, if the Cubs have it……by the way, the consensus is that the Cubs will probably be the most active team from this point on and now, Milwaukee just basically made them have to do something. They’ll probably resign Bellinger, based on what the industry is saying.
I believe it’s gio
Oh,Urshela. Right on. I think he was with the Angels last season when not hurt. He’s good when healthy and he was with the Twins so I could be getting my seasons mixed up.
This is a good signing for the Brewers. However, if he has a solid season, he will likely opt out and enter FA again. That said, I hope he has a solid year, but the Brewers might be looking for a 1b again in 2025.
Tyler Black should be ready by then.
I actually think he improves the Brewers offense significantly. With their pitching, they’re probably the favorite to get the NL Central again. I say probably because the consensus is that the Cubs will make the most noise from this point on. Including resigning Bellinger.
Awesome move now go out and sign Gio Urshela to play 3rd. I know Tyler black is coming up but I would rather see him at second over Turang.
He’ll be traded at the deadline if hes productive and the brewers are sitting at .500 and out of it. I can see a fire sale in Milwaukee in July
…said the Cubs fan.
There’s no dominant team in the NL Central. So, regardless of whether they’re around 500 or not, they’ll still be in it.
Good fit. I feel like teans slept on Hoskins because of the injury, but good player.
Heard local radio show that D’Backs are looking at the cheap in acquiring a DH, Martinez is wanting 2 plus option for about 20 mil a year, Kinda playing the waiting game on Martinez or Turner figuring that one will come down to 1 yr plus incentives contract.
He has a .342 5HR in 38 at bats at Miller Park. Very small could be significant
ok so now the Cubs really need to sign Belli or else this big market club will have a former top prospect at 1B and no one good at 3B, like the small market teams. No real closer and no ace atop the rotation. Not much power. And we are supposed to believe the Cubs are contenders? Counsell must be wondering what he got himself into.
The cubs paid twice the money any other team would have.. that’s what he got himself into
Brewers just got the batter they need to win the NL central again. There’s always health tied to that claim to make it through 162gms. But as their roster stands it’s 90+wins with upside. Just don’t Jesse Winker with the bat Rhys! (That too)
I hope without Counsell he bats ahead of Adames in the top 4 and Adames doesn’t see the top 4 this year with Murphy managing. Contreras 3rd Yelich 1 or 2. Chourio can be thrust in 2 with Yeli 1. Start the young man’s career where he should spend it throughout his career.
This writer called Hoskin’s being a 5th round pick “modest draft stock.” I take issue with that because the MLB draft is nothing like the NFL or NBA. MLB drafts are littered early round busts and late round stars. I always cringe a little when someone says things like, “We’re going to take a chance on this guy to figure it out. After all, he was a second-round pick!” Big whoop.
That. That right there is why the Brewers will never have a championship banner. How hard did they outbid themselves? Every other team stopped at 2/18, but they just HAD to have their “hold my beer” moment.
“Every other team”…source?
As a Phillies Phan, I wish Rhys well. I’ll probably go to the 1st game he plays at CBP. He’s had some epic moments in his Phillies career and we’ll never forget the year he came up from AAA and immediately hit like the second coming of Mike Trout- breaking a record in the process.
As for the Phillies, I think they need to get some insurance for Bryce at 1B. A RH hitter that can also play corner OF. Wil Myers on a minor league deal makes some sense.
Cubs are backing themselves into a corner with all their fallback options being signed. I’m starting to think the offense is really going to take a gigantic step back next season. Jed cheapskate hoyer misses again!
Case study: Counsell or Hoskins? Money better spent on the margins? Assuming the Cubbies don’t come to their senses and do something, instead of screaming poor while erecting another Dennys in Ricketsville.
I’m confused..$34 mil guaranteed AND the ability to opt out after a year..?
Or $34 mil IF he doesn’t opt out? Cuz that’d be way more cheese than MKE would ever spend on a player (well, for the Brewers. Bucks gotta fork more than that to Giannis to be player/coach/GM/concessions manager).
Its probably 17Mil for the first year and the rest if he opts in. Its definitely not 34 for 1 year.
No I didn’t figure it was. Just looking for clarification on the wording or breakdown of $ is all.
Gotcha. They *finally* disclosed that. 2024: 12 mil. 2025 18 mil or 4 mil buyout. 2026: 18mil or 4 mil buyout. 2026 was previously unreported. Pretty friendly numbers for the Crew in 2024 and high enough of a buyout that he may not automatically just take the 18mil.
Deferred.
Looks like it’s actually $16 mil guaranteed ($12m this year plus $4m buyout, $30m if he picks up the ’25 option).
No, seriously…
1/17m where you’re stuck with Hoskins for another 17m in 2025 if he’s lousy… a 2-win 31 year old who missed a year with a serious injury, to play at two of the easiest positions on the diamond to fill—though granted the Brewers somehow managed to win 92 last year without a 1Bman or a DH.
Heads we tie, tails we lose. Way to ‘go,’ Brewers.
Wasn’t Yelich the “regular” DH last year, with Contreras getting roughly 1 game a week there..? And weren’t they 2 of the better hitters on the team?
No, no, NO! Typical Brewer “signing.” A perfect example of why this franchise has been to only ONE WS over forty years ago in team history. Should have brought Santana back, then went out and signed a 3B. And NOT Turner, Donaldson, etc.! Geez, I’m sick of watching Milwaukee fielding the same team of Northwoods tavern softball players for the past decade. The faces change, but it’s the same old team year after year with similar results.
Should have known nothing would change when Murphy was made manager.
And what third baseman do you think they should have signed?
He doesn’t know, just making dumb comments
Paul Molitor or Chipper Jones!
@pdxbrewcrew
Urshela or Escobar would have been my choices. The better IF would have been either one of those two, Adames, Turang & C. Santana. Should have kept Escobar after the ’21 season. But Counsell & Co. thought Peterson/Brosseau were better answers. Plus Chapman is probably out of their $$ range.
Escobar? The Brewers can still sign him to a minor league deal, since that’s all he’s going to muster this offseason.
Glad to see the FO get Murph a quality stick.
1 year or less rental. 100% guarantee he’ll be traded at the deadline if the crew are out of it and sitting at .500
This would have been a perfect signing and contract for the twins. Apparently they are sitting out the offseason and just crossing our fingers the Royals and Tigers underperform…
Happy birthday to Mr. Baseball! The best radio personality in the league turns 90 today! Thank you Bob Ueker for everything you do for Milwaukee. If the Fonz gets a statue, what does The Ueke get for his many contributions to society? Bob Ueker Field sounds about right.
Correction! How could I misspell his name? Well, I guess I shot the corner and missed on my tribute to the best thing to happen to the city of Milwaukee. Sorry Mr. Baseball. Happy 90th.
While I agree with your sentiments on Mr. Baseball, he does already have not one, but two statues at American Family Field. I guess there is room for another in the city itself, but that would make it 3 for him, 1 for the Fonz and 1 for Da Crusher (South Milwaukee).
It would be fitting to give him a golden seat statue sitting in that “front” row seat.
There is already a Uecker statue at Miller Park (yeah I know) sitting in the upper deck last row. And one out front of the stadium.
I like the structure this deal a lot for the Brewers. The team shores up a weak position offensively to capitalize on Burnes’s last year of control and put themselves in position to potentially collect three compensatory draft picks afterwards. Milwaukee will get their soft landing, as always seems to be the case
The final numbers appear to be more team-friendly than I’d expected. Not all that high risk, which is nice.
I love this deal for the Brewers!
This offseason all the contracts seem like they’re 25+% over what you’d expect but this deal seems pretty darn reasonable especially in comparison.
Glad the Brewers decided to keep their key impending free agents and add to the core, especially in the NL Central.