Rhys Hoskins will break camp with the Guardians, as the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports that Cleveland will be selecting the first baseman’s contract prior to Opening Day. The Guards will have to make a corresponding move to create space for Hoskins on the 40-man roster.
For making the team, Hoskins will now earn a $1.5MM salary for 2026, as per the terms of the minor league contract he signed last month. It’s a nice late birthday present for Hoskins less than a week after his 33rd birthday, though it was widely expected that Hoskins would be part of Cleveland’s roster. As an extremely quiet Guardians offseason comes to a close, Hoskins projects to be the only new offensive addition to a lineup that was one of baseball’s worst in 2025.
While the Guardians are primarily counting on such youngsters Chase DeLauter and Kyle Manzardo to generate more offense, the team will also see what Hoskins can bring in his ninth Major League season. Formerly a prominent power bat in the Phillies’ lineup, Hoskins hasn’t really been the same since missing the entire 2023 season due to a torn ACL.
Hoskins hit .223/.314/.418 with 38 homers over 845 PA with the Brewers over the last two seasons, translating to a 104 wRC+ and 1.1 fWAR. Hoskins’ 2025 campaign was better than his 2024, as he seemed to wear down in the last half of his return year. Last season, Hoskins was hampered by a sprained thumb that limited him to 90 games for Milwaukee.
Once a lefty-masher, the right-handed hitting Hoskins has had more modest numbers against southpaws in 2024-25, akin to his overall lesser production. Since Manzardo and C.J. Kayfus are both left-handed hitters, Hoskins provides cover for both players in the first base/designated hitter mix. Hoskins has never been known as a great defender, but 2025 was one of his best years with the glove, as per the public defensive metrics (+2 Defensive Runs Saved, +1 Outs Above Average).
Easy decision
I’m not sure what he has left, but it’s worth a try. If it doesn’t work out they can cut him loose and bring Kayfus back up.
Kayfus is up due to Valera’s injury.
I think Martinez swill get left and Fairchild will be the 4th
“104 wRC+ ”
YAY!!!
The Guardians got a possible bargain here. No risk, potentially decent reward.
Happy for Rhys – if he is healed up he can become a solid addition for Cleveland, and he is a terrific dude
I love how MLBTR “analysts” consistently bang the drum that Hoskins is the “only” addition to a CLE team which finished last in the AL in offense, as if Delauter, Kayfus, and Valera participated to any great degree in the season long results. Wake up, everybody, Cleveland actually won the division last year with that horrendous offense everybody talks about, and they can’t be any worse with a lineup that offers much more potential than the one that took the field the vast majority of 2025.
It is really weird. I’ve commented on it a couple times, to Steve Adams in particular. It’s like they’re emissaries for the MLBPA and our monetary policy is a direct kick in the teeth, robbing their players blind. I’d prefer we spent some more on the Hoskins role but the right ‘some’, not just blindly more. I preferred going without a year ago and giving over 1B to the clumsy ox Manzardo with Kayfus or Brito waiting in the wings and DH vs lhp to Johnathan Rodriguez rather than Willy nilly blowing 12 million on Carlos Santana.
You’re right, well over 1000 PA vs rhp went to Santana, Angel, Jones, Lane Thomas, and others with a collective ops barely touching .600. Enter the shiny new high upsides of Delauter, Valera and Kayfus. One of our .630 ops MI Arias or Rocchio will have to give way soon to Bazzana. Things are hardly bleak in Cleveland.
Phillies fan here, and Rhys Hoskins fan. I don’t know a thing about the Guardians’ roster, statistics or chances. But I do know that Rhys isn’t near finished his baseball career. He was a huge asset to the Phillies and was only released once it became apparent that Bryce Harper (who had a bigger and longer contract) would be our new 1st baseman after he recovered from Tommy John surgery. There was no alternate position for Rhys. The fans were greatly saddened and disappointed by Rhys’ release. But he had a better chance to play on a regular basis by going to Milwaukee. My hope for him is he will continue to prove his worth to the Guardians this coming season …. provided it isn’t when/if they’re playing the Phillies!