The Philadelphia Phillies have expressed an interest in keeping free-agent first baseman Rhys Hoskins, even though they really have no place to put him.
By naming Bryce Harper as its first baseman, the Phillies have, essentially, told Hoskins that if he comes back he’ll have to find a new role.
But, as Phillies fans, know, Hoskins’ situation is complicated and as the New York Post calculated earlier this week, the money to sign Hoskins isn’t out of most teams’ budgets.
The Post consulted two experts on baseball salaries and asked them to predict what 17 free-agent hitters might get on the open market. Post writer Jon Heyman also included his prediction.
Their projections were reasonable, at least from a baseball standpoint.
All three aligned on a per-year figure — $20 million. The question was the length of the deal. Heyman projected one year, one expert projected two years (with an opt-out) and the other expert projected a three-year deal.
Hoskins is coming off a 2023 in which he made $12 million. So any of those deals represents a significant raise.
The team that signs Hoskins will be getting a player that should be ready to go for the 2024 season after missing the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL that ended his season.
Hoskins is a career .242 hitter who consistently hits anywhere from 20 to 30 home runs per season and is able to draw walks effectively. That includes an NL-high 116 walks in 2019.
He has 148 career home runs, along with 405 RBI.
Hoskins’ injury altered the trajectory of his career and free agency. With Harper returning from Tommy John surgery he started 2023 as a designated hitter and ended it as a first baseman. He won a Silver Slugger at DH after he slashed .293/.401/.499/.900 with 21 home runs and 72 RBI.
After Harper proved he could play the position, and the Phillies committed to keeping him there, it make Hoskins the odd-man out.
But, at $20 million, maybe there is a place for Hoskins in this Phillies lineup? Even if that’s possible, the Phillies are likely to have plenty of competition.
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