Why the Phillies must move on from Rhys Hoskins this offseason

Last Friday, Philadelphia Phillies beat writer Matt Gelb wrote a mailbag article for The Athletic in which he answered fans' questions. 

One of the questions dealt with first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who has been out all season with a torn ACL. Hoskins suffered the injury in spring training, and it couldn't have come at a worse time. 

The Phillies avoided arbitration with Hoskins by signing him to a one-year deal in January, meaning that he'll be a free agent at year's end. This is what Gelb had to say about the situation.

"I do think there is legitimate interest in bringing back Hoskins...Look, it’s quite obvious how much they have missed Hoskins’ combination of right-handed power and patience...It makes a lot of sense for both sides to find common ground on an incentive-laden deal that could help Hoskins restore his value."

If there is "legitimate interest," there shouldn't be.

It seems as though the Phillies organization and the fans are still evaluating Hoskins by an astonishing rookie campaign in 2017. That year, he hit 11 home runs in a 14-game span and finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting despite only playing 50 games. Baseball Reference estimates that if Hoskins had played a full season, he would have hit 58 home runs with 156 RBI.

Had Hoskins lived up to that potential, he would be considered the National League's answer to New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge: the very definition of a power hitter, unrivaled in home runs. But while Judge has averaged 50 home runs and 111 RBI per season, Hoskins' average is 36 homers and 98 RBI. Hoskins also strikes out with regularity, averaging 167 Ks per season, and he doesn't walk enough to negate that total. He led the National League in 2019 with 116 bases on balls, but that was an anomaly.

Gelb also addressed the question of where Hoskins could fit in the Phillies' current defensive alignment.

"Just because Bryce Harper has learned first base doesn’t mean he’ll be there in 2024. He could be in left field. Harper’s ability to play either position allows the Phillies to pursue upgrades at both spots this winter. Maybe they find a left fielder they like and that nudges Harper to first base with Kyle Schwarber as the designated hitter and Hoskins … elsewhere."

It's true that Harper doesn't have much experience at first base. An upgrade is definitely needed in left field as well, with Schwarber born to be a designated hitter. But what would be the point of putting Harper back in the outfield given his torn UCL on an outfield throw last season? Wouldn't it make the most sense for the Phillies to protect their franchise player by keeping him at first base, especially when he's already proven his agility at the position?

The logical outfield solution would be to move 25-year-old center fielder Brandon Marsh to left field, which would allow rookie center fielder Johan Rojas a full-time opportunity. The 23-year-old Rojas has already proven that he's a natural athlete, and the Phillies should be looking toward the future in that regard.

Hoskins will be 31 years old at the start of next season, and it isn't a guarantee that he'll return to his pre-injury form. If the Phillies want to stay contenders, they need to be thinking younger and faster. Hoskins put up solid numbers over his six seasons in Philadelphia, but in the grand scheme, it's time to move on.