First baseman Rhys Hoskins and the Guardians are finalizing a minor league deal, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Hoskins, a Boras Corporation client, will receive a $1.5MM salary if he makes Cleveland’s MLB roster. The news of Hoskins’ deal with the Guardians comes after reports (including one from Meisel) earlier in the day indicated the veteran’s presence in the team’s Arizona clubhouse.
Hoskins, 33 next month, spent six seasons in Philadelphia as one of the more reliably above-average corner bats in the game. He managed to make up for low batting averages by consistently flashing 30-homer pop and keeping his walk rate above 10%. After a 2022 campaign where he slashed .246/.332/.462 with 30 homers in 156 games, Hoskins figured to be a key figure in the Phillies’ lineup headed into 2023 when those plans were abruptly scuttled by an ACL tear that wiped out his entire season.
That lost season led Hoskins to reach free agency as something of an unknown quantity, but he ultimately found a two-year deal with the Brewers that afforded him the opportunity to opt out after the 2024 season. The veteran appeared in 131 games for Milwaukee during that first season but didn’t hit at his typical levels, with a slash line of just .214/.303/.419 and a wRC+ of 101. While he was still good for 26 home runs, a career-high 28.8% strikeout rate sapped much of the value Hoskins had offered during his days in Philadelphia.
That down season was enough to convince Hoskins to remain in Milwaukee for 2025, but he was limited to just 90 games this past season due to a sprained thumb. The good news is that when he was on the field, his production ticked back up to be more substantially above league average. In 328 trips to the plate last year, Hoskins slashed .237/.332/.416 with a wRC+ of 109. While Hoskins’s power numbers were the weakest of his career, his strikeout rate ticked down to 27.7% while his walk rate crept up to 11.6%, his highest level since 2020.
A second injury-plagued season in the past three years was bad news for Hoskins’s market value, however, and he’s scarcely been discussed in the rumor mill since returning to free agency back in November. With Spring Training now underway, Hoskins opted to catch on with the Guardians on a minor league pact. The veteran is a strong fit for Cleveland’s needs, and signing with them should give him every opportunity to crack the club’s Opening Day roster.
Both first baseman Kyle Manzardo and expected designated hitter C.J. Kayfus are left-handed hitters, so a right-handed first base/DH option like Hoskins is a strong on-paper fit. While Hoskins actually had reverse splits last year, he’s a career 137 wRC+ hitter against southpaws, and even last year’s 102 wRC+ would be a substantial improvement over the numbers Mazardo (83) and Kayfus (67) posted against lefties last year.
While Hoskins currently looks likely to be ticketed for a platoon role on paper, it’s not at all difficult to imagine him working his way into earning everyday reps. Kayfus is a rookie who posted a wRC+ of just 96 in 44 games last year, after all, and Hoskins is a capable hitter against righties looking at both last season (111 wRC+) and his career (115). With Cleveland, the veteran should have a strong opportunity to put together a rebound season after his struggles to stay on the field and produce consistently over a full season that have cropped up over the past few years. If he can rediscover some of the form that made him a middle-of-the-order bat for the Phillies a few years ago, it’s not too difficult to imagine Hoskins becoming an instrumental part of the Guardians’ lineup alongside stars Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan.
It’s a funny world where we can hear that Westburg is injured more seriously the night before anything is announced and somehow we don’t know a guy has been signed until we see him wearing their uniform. Hoskins is surely not the player Westburg is–just funny.
Some organizations are more tight lipped than others it seems.
What a pickup if he can stay healthy no reason he cannot hit 25 homers or more, this could be the steal of free agency
The Guardians are notoriously tight lipped. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a major trade or signing reported before it actually happened since the Lindor trade. Accordingly, if you ever hear the Guardians involved in trade rumors you can almost guarantee it’s other teams leaking it.
If he stays healthy he is atleast as good if not better than Westburg
All Hoskins wants to do is walk
Rhys was a good Phillie, and his clubhouse presence was possibly more important than his on-field production.
who is Westburg ?
Good DH option for the Guardians. Gives them a power bat to go with Ramirez
This is their big free agent signing of the year!
Solid cheap move that could really pay off.
Really; what about relief pitcher shawn armstrong signing for 5.5 million to setup and close for cade smith ? What a clueless goof !
Hahaha well they signed someone other than Rhys good for them.
Perhaps you should look at Armstrong’s lifelong stats. He is either hit or miss and two back to back good seasons seem to evade him. I am guessing his ERA will be in the high 3’s or low 4’s and won’t be the trusted reliever you are hoping for. Hoskins on the other hand, will probably hit 20 homers and field his position pretty well. I am guessing Hoskins only gets 350 abs as Manager Vogt likes to make sure everyone stays sharp.
@noiro
Granted that it isn’t easy for relievers to put together back-to-back excellent seasons, but I gather you haven’t looked closely at some of the basic repertoire changes that resulted in Armstrong’s stellar year. I would fully expect him to have another solid season given the addition of his devastating sweeper. Maybe not as good as last year’s 0.85 WHIP but even if he “regresses” to a 1.00 WHIP, he’s not going to have a 4.00 ERA.
Ok, this is kind of comical.
At least he got a chance somewhere.
lol this is so strange
Strong indications… I’d say so if he is in uniform and has a locker lol.
Nice pickup. I’m surprised his market was so slow.
I used to have a 91 jeep comanche
Inline 6?
I’m a Wrangler guy myself. Your 91 Comanche might be able to provide better offence than what is left on the free agent market.
Limited defense, declining offense since peak, and injuries sapped his value. I’m surprised he didn’t get a little bit better deal, but I’m not surprised teams were hesitant to sign him.
Finally they did something.
Very sad on Colorado not making this move
Would it really have made a difference?
It would have still been fun to see a big power bat in Colorado.
Would it have?
Difference no. Trade chip absolutely.
Yes
Nah
yes because if he kills it that is a good prospect you could get back which will speed up the rebuild.
How cute! You think they are rebuilding. They aren’t. Why would the first place team rebuild?
There are Phillies fans sighing across the Delaware Valley, but Hoskins would have been a PH that occasionally made a start at 1B. He understood that, CLE was probably his best opportunity to get 500 PA’s for a contender.
If some team had offered him a major league deal for more than $1.5 million, he would have gone with them. I’m sure the playing for a contender thing had nothing to do with it.
This. Even if he could only sign with rebuilding teams that just gives him an opportunity to play and prove he’s still good, then get traded to a contender at the deadline.
I love this signing although I wonder how he’ll fit in playing time wise. We need right handed bats so this will help a smidge.
Suddenly the MLBTR writers are scouring the video feeds from all 30 teams to see who else is showing up in locker rooms wearing team gear.
If you look at the lefty vs righty splits with Manzo and Hoskins, you can see the platoon opportunity.
IF Kwan can show him how to layoff some pitches — Hoskins could be a dangerous batter
IF he makes the team, Hoskins will get about 300 at bats, if that.
The lack of available at bats was one of the reasons that Cleveland wasn’t able to sign a mid level FA that hit right handed. Hoskins market dropped to the point that he couldn’t be picky about playing time.
Cleveland has had some good fortune with signing declining 1B/DH types…in Napoli and Giambi.
Giambi was terrible in Cleveland. Napoli was good but that was 2016.
You and JRamHOF are a little off base on this one I think. Was Giambi a major bat? Nope. Was he the veteran hitter that provided leadership and a winning attitude to a clubhouse that desperately needed both? YES.
The clutch hits (more than the one) were a great bonus…
it really doesn’t matter how winning of an attitude a player has when they are a DH only player providing .622 OPS. that’s objectively awful.
.171/.276/.346
Ask the clubhouse what a winning attitude means. Not sure it’s as meaningless as you seem to assume…
they finished second and list the wildcard game his first year and missed the playoffs altogether his second. doesn’t seem like his attitude did enough.
Veteran ledership is nice, but Cleveland finished 1 game out of their division in 2013, and Giambi played in 71 games as a DH/pinch hitter and had a .653 OPS. At some point, you have to provide a little more than just clubhouse stability if you are a semi-regular for nearly a half of a season, especially for a team in the midst of a divison race.
I understand the logic, however I believe if you ask the players and coaches from those teams they would say he was huge for the team.
Value isn’t just in the numbers.
I get that the teams weren’t hugely successful, but this was when they started building that consistent winning franchise mentality (albeit not the ultimate winning level). IMO
Good vibes/clubhouse leadership does fuq-all to help the team win. Production on the field does.
How does Austin Hedges still have a job and is wanted by more than just Cleveland?
MLB isn’t fantasy baseball. It’s just not all about the numbers…
Austin Hedges is employed for his glove and the numbers bear that. Giambi was employed for his bat, but by the time he was in CLE his bat was worthless.
A defensive wizard at catcher is way more valuable than a DH who can’t hit.
Austin Hedges is employed for his glove, work with the pitching staff, and his locker room presence. The locker room is of huge importance in Cleveland. Regardless of your opinion. That organizational closeness is one reason that Jose Ramirez keeps signing to stay.
Sure, it may not be all about the numbers, but when you’re a part-time DH/PH and you’re batting .183 with an OPS hovering around .650, you better be performing miracles in the clubhouse and dugout. That is unacceptable production from a guy who’s only value is his bat when you’re in a divison race.
@mlb1225
And you’re lecturing Cleveland about what it takes to make the playoffs from your perch as a Pirates fan?
Any moron knows a 1B/DH “hitting” .180 isn’t going to help the team make the playoffs no matter how good he is at giving locker room speeches.
You obviously do not understand what makes Cleveland tick.
The org doesn’t spend money…but they win.
The team can’t hit…but they win.
Their manager never managed before, only even coached one season…but they win.
Other teams consistently poach Clevelands coaching staff and front office personnel…but they win.
Individually, they often don’t produce, according to stat lines…but they win.
Fans in Cleveland, and around the country, insist that Guardian players (not named Jose) suck…just like in this thread…but they win.
Over the last decade or so, the fourth winningest team in MLB.
So, if the owner won’t spend and the players can’t play, how do they keep winning?
If it isnt the intangibles…leadership, clubhouse presence, CULTURE…what is it?
There is no answer for those who can not quantify…who do not recognize…will not even admit to the existence of..the unquantifiable.
Giambi…and several like him over the years…have been worth wins that can’t be measured.
And a story about one of them…
In 2016 Cleveland signed 37 yr old Juan Uribe, a very good player at one time, but whose career had reached the end. Uribe was unproductive on the field, to say the least…and was released at the deadline.
But while he was there, he took a very young fellow Dominican under his wing. That youngster was at the time an interesting utility player with no power. Uribe convinced the kid that, although undersized, he was strong enough to develope into a power hitter. And Uribe kept after the kid.
That youngster was Jose Ramirez. JRAMs career ISO went from .128 before Uribe to .247 post Uribe.
How many wins has Uribe been worth to Cleveland?
Of course this thread was originally about Hoskins. Who knows if Hoskins will produce for Cleveland, or not. But bet your bottom dollar that the org is convinced that…productive or not…Hoskins will fit quite well into the Guardians culture. For whatever period of time Hoskins is in the org, the front office views him as a plus.
Well, stated, Cats!
Texas got hedges at 2023 trade deadline from the pirates. To a man on texas rangers said they dont win the 2023 world series. Now do you understand that your baseball clueless ?
Giambi was awful aside from hitting one clutch home run
Straight up negationism.
That must have been a big homerun if everyone can remember it from 15 years ago.
Well it was pretty electric, and it helped the Indians make the Wild Card. That’s worth something
Good for Rhys
yes, but I’m sure he was expecting to sign for a more than a minor league deal
I’m guessing he has an op out if he doesn’t make the team out of spring training, good option to show other teams what he has. I don’t see him taking at bats away from Manzardo or Kayfus both 1B/DH and their future, even Fry is available on their roster
I was thinking the same thing but Kayfus could play in RF and I’m hoping Fry catches enough to relegate Hedges to every third Sunday.
Would’ve been a great addition here. Moncada is making three times as much to be just as injured.
You take that back! Nobody is more injured than Moncada
If you’re a high school first baseman good enough to be drafted, BEG your manager to play you somewhere else.
What if you’re left handed, don’t have great speed or arm?
Then you are likely not “good enough to be drafted” at all.
Good point.
Ross Gload and Travis Ishikawa wish you had given them this advice sooner.
If only Pete got that advice from you before he started playing baseball. He never wanted to make 100’s of millions anyways. Bro had 5 errors in less that 20 opportunities at 3b in his lifetime.
Is it really a question on if he makes the team? I guess if he has a terrible spring he could be cut, but honestly hes the 4th best hitter on that team, i think he gets at least 450 at bats
Yeah he should get plenty of playing time.
We’ll see if he even has any gas left in the tank but i doubt going forward that he’ll be much better than half of Cleveland’s starting 9.
USA USA USA
FINALLY….WE DID SOMETHING!!!!
Good potential low key move for Cleveland.
I like this move. If he’s healthy and remains so, this could be the most valued oriented deal of the winter.
Watch he’ll be an all star for Cleveland
It’s still winter so this will be Cleveland’s big move this winter. Congrats to them on doing something.
Armstrong got 5.5 million for this year and a option for 2027 for 7 million from guardians. Folow baseball much sherlock ?
Follow. There I spelled it for you. I said big move. Did not say the only move. Most people won’t recall the Armstrong move because it’s minor no matter what you think. I could go on but I won’t embarrass you anymore than this. Think before you comment to avoid humiliation.
Unless you’re getting a big time closer, signing relievers doesn’t really impact the win column as much as you might think. Armstrong is pretty good for the middle innings and that’s why he’s getting $5.5M, but they’ll maybe get 60-70 medium leverage innings out of him if he’s healthy and effective. Hoskins has a greater chance to impact the team simply because he’s been a pretty good slugger in his career and Cleveland’s slapdick offense needs someone who can yank some dingers.
Slapdick offense LOL
If he stays healthy this is a great low risk pickup. Team definitely needs right handed bats
Where is the link to Baseball Reference Nick?
Rhys got twice the minimum MLB salary. That’s in Dolan’s wheelhouse. Bargain basement bin is officially open!
Nice rhyme windowpane.
A lot of people in Cleveland, esp within the org, would argue with you about Giambi in 2013. His stat line might have been unimpressive, but his presence and his big moments helped drive the Indians to a 24 game improvement and a 92 win season.
Cleveland, more than maybe any other org, values what older veterans, like Giambi and Napoli bring to the table.
For Cleveland, Hoskins is a NO COST move. If he doesn’t make the team, no big deal. But if he does, remains reasonably healthy, and returns to 90% of what he was..for $1.5 mil…he becomes one of the biggest bargains of the off season.
Ok another right handed bat ! Tigers lhp beware!
Who woke up the Guardians?????
Under-the-radar upside bargain hunts this late stage are the norm.
I wish the Red Sox had picked him up
Quinnap89
19 hours ago
I wish the Red Sox had picked him up
_______________________________
If the Red Sox signed Hoskins, many fans would criticize Breslow and management for being cheap and a dumpster diver.
But the Red Sox have Contreras at first base, and he’ll be good at Fenway.
And I’m glad they didn’t re-sign Bregman.
Contreras will replace his production.
A+
Twins beating themselves up for overpaying on Josh Bell…
That’s a shame. Several Phillies, notably Harper, lobbied for the club to sign Rhys as a bat off the bench.
Everyone in Philly loves Rhys. But there is no roster room in Philly. It would mean Otto or someone else gets the shaft.
Sure, but maybe Rhys doesn’t want to be just a bench bat.
I saw that story and I don’t believe it for a second.
At this point, Hoskins is limited to 1B and DH and he is poor at 1B.
The Phil’s have full-time Starters at DH with Harper GG quality at 1st.
He would have been primarily limited to PH Duty and rest games.
But unless they add a 2nd DH hitter to the lineup, there was not room.
Good move by the Guardians. No risk, decent reward potential. Hoskins may still have something left in the tank.
Not only is Rhys Hoskins a formidable power hitter and decent defensive first baseman, but he brings a lot of intangibles to a team. He is involved in every play of every game – if not in the batter’s box or on the field, then at the top of the dugout steps, vocally encouraging his teammates. The Phils made a big mistake letting him go and an even bigger one by not resigning him this offseason. He’ll help the Guardians. The Phils not resigning him may be their biggest mistake of the offseason – and they’ve had plenty. He is a spark plug that can be the heart and soul of any team he plays for, and heart and soul are what the Phillies have lacked since Hoskins left the team.
Schwarber does what Rhys did. I love Rhys, but he’s not necessary for the Phils right anymore. That said I find it weird that other teams like the Pirates and Rockies and White Sox were not in on him. There must be some additonal medical something holding him back. We know he can’t run well but he’s passable on D and gets on base like a champion.
sudden, What Hoskins does that Schwarber doesn’t is become involved in every play of every game. Hoskins has it in high gear in the batter’s box, on the field, and at the top of the dugout steps as he cheers on his teammates. Schwarber is supposed to be some kind of positive influence in the clubhouse, but he’s not the spark plug that Hoskins is. He bats four times a game and takes batting practice between innings while guys like Hoskins are on the field, busting their humps playing defense. Sure, Schwarber is always in the camera’s view to congratulate a teammate who has just homered, but Hoskins is there also, patting teammates on the back when they strike out. Hoskins was the heart and soul of the Phillies all the time he played for the team. The Phils have not been the same since they made the mistake of letting him go. The pity is, to hear Dombrowski recently talk about Hoskins not being a good fit for the Phils, it becomes obvious that Dombrowski still doesn’t get how important Hoskins was to the Phillies and how much he could help the team going forward. Even Harper knows that – or so he claims.
It’s amazing how Harper is being quoted as going to bat for Hoskins recently and trying to get the Phils to sign him. Where was Harper a few years ago when the Phils were talking about him transitioning to first base from the outfield? He had to realize such a transition would cost Hoskins his job in Philly. It’s amazing how Harper always finds the press to share his alleged good deeds with – after the fact! A few months ago, Harper was telling the press he would have been willing to move to the outfield if the Phils signed Pete Alonso to play first base. By that time, Alonso was already heading elsewhere. Maybe Harper should spend less time recounting his good deeds to the press and spending more time trying to become elite again.
He actually made that comment while Alonso was still a FA. However, Harper volunteering to be moved to the OF is taken as seriously as Devers volunteering to move back to third. Teams know better. Harper was the last OF to put up sub Castellanos defensive numbers.
stymeedone
2 hours ago
Teams know better. Harper was the last OF to put up sub Castellanos defensive numbers.
____________________________________________
Career of Harper in RF
7787.1 Inn. – (+1Drs), -14FRV
Career of Castellanos in RF
9042.0 Inn. – (-90Drs), -91Frv
If Harper is a bad outfield defender, then Castellanos is a disaster in the outfield; he should never have played there.
Castellanos is the designated hitter.
Dambrowski gave him this crappy contract even though he already had Harper in right field.
What incompetence on Dave’s part.
styme, The first I heard about Harper’s offer was after the Phils had already passed on Alonso because they couldn’t afford to sign both Alonso and Schwarber. That, in and of itself, is a whole other discussion. For the same amount of money, Alonso would have been the smarter acquisition.
Nice move, Guardians!
Boras corp couldn’t find a major league deal for a guy who probably puts up 1.5-2 WAR over a season. Not even the Rockies who like half their team last year put up negative WAR.
Hoskins hasn’t put up even 1 WAR per in the last 2 seasons. “What have you done lately?” and all that.
He hit well enough last year to get at least a bench job on a crappy team like Colorado. 108 OPS+ and like I said he’s at least a replacement level player I’d given a full season of ABs. More than can be said for like half the Rockies lineup. There’s bad teams in the league, really bad.
Really hoped that Nats would have signed him.
Is this means that Nats won‘t signed anyone to play first base before the opening day?
He would have been a nice pickup for the Rockies at this cost. Maybe he didn’t want to play there but he should have been open to it as the CO could have been a nice place for him to pad his stats
It would be a nice place for ANY of the FA 1B to play, yet none have signed with them. Hard to pad your stats when no one is on base.
Look at the bright side, Indiguards fans – could have been Rowdy T.
I don’t know about calling Steven Kwan a star
Shrewd move for Cleveland.