RHYS HOSKINS
Position: 1B/DH
Age: 30 (03/17/1993)
2022 Traditional Stats: 156 G, 672 AB, .246/.332/.462, 30 HR, 33 2B, 79 RBI, 272 TB, 145 H
2022 Advanced Stats: 2.9 bWAR, 123 OPS+, .216 ISO, 90.2 EV, 44.5 HardH%, 25.2 SO%, 10.7 BB%, 4.5 HR%
RUNDOWN
Rhys Hoskins had an early, unfortunate end to his 2023 season. After clubbing 30 homers and going to the World Series in 2022, Hoskins tore his ACL in a spring training game against the Tigers on March 23.
Hoskins missed the entire 2023 season with his torn ACL and put the first base job in jeopardy for the Phillies. The club tried Kody Clemens, Darick Hall, Drew Ellis, and Alec Bohm at the position, but all either couldn’t produce offensively or defensively. The position got so bad the Phillies stuck Bryce Harper at first for 36 games and during their 2023 playoff run.
It’s not surprising the Phillies struggled to replace Hoskins’ production. The Sacramento native has hit 148 homers since his debut, the seventh most by a first baseman since 2017. Hoskins also has an impressive eye at the plate, logging a .332 on-base percentage in 2022 and a career .353 OBP.
Along with his production on the field, the Phillies also lost a respected leader in the clubhouse. Many Phillies spoke about the negative impact of Hoskins’ injury after the game and Kyle Schwarber stated how important he was to the team.
“Our hearts are so heavy for him … because he means so much to this team — the clubhouse, the camaraderie, everything we have. It’s definitely some heavy moments. He’s kind of like our spokesperson. He steps up and talks [about] whatever needs to be addressed. … He does so much for our ballclub.’’
Despite losing Hoskins, the Phillies qualified for the 2023 playoffs. They advanced as far as Game 7 of the National League Championship Series and took down the 104-win Braves along the way. It marked the second year in a row the Phillies competed in the NLCS.
CONTRACT
Hoskins is currently projected to sign a one-year, $21 million deal according to Spotrac.com. A one-year, $21 million contract may be too high of a prediction for Hoskins, as he didn’t receive the qualifying offer from the Phillies, which is currently valued at $20.35 million.
The slugger has dealt with unfortunate timing in his major league career. After signing a one-year, $12 million contract to avoid arbitration before the 2023 season, Hoskins tore his ACL in his contract year. He is now a universal free agent and hasn’t received much attention from major league clubs. The only connected team to Hoskins as of January 18 is the Chicago Cubs.
RECOMMENDATION
A Hoskins-Mets connection is certainly tantalizing. The Mets need more power in their lineup and are also in a period where they’re avoiding long-term contracts. Hoskins fits this bill perfectly, as he’ll most likely get a one-year, bounce-back contract in 2024.
Still, the likelihood of these two parties connecting is slim. The Mets have been more interested in Jorge Soler and haven’t been linked to Hoskins all offseason. This shouldn’t surprise anybody, as Soler fits David Stearn’s roster fluidity narrative he’s preached all offseason, while Hoskins profiles as a DH first player at this stage in his career.
In another universe, where the Mets were a top contender for the World Series, adding Hoskins may make sense. But in this universe, the Mets are projected as a wild-card team and need to evaluate their roster. Mark Vientos and Brett Baty need at-bats to display their potential. Starling Marte is coming back from injury and the Mets could use the DH to ease him back into major league games. Heck, even DJ Stewart deserves reps at DH after he slashed .303/.378/.727 with eight homers in August last season.
Hoskins would certainly improve the offense, but at the expense of the Mets’ prospect development. I begrudgingly pass on Hoskins.
