Brewers acknowledging Rhys Hoskins miscalculation with latest trade rumor

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming to terms with the fact that last year's acquisition of Rhys Hoskins has turned into a costly misstep. Despite missing the entire 2023 season due to a torn ACL, Hoskins was initially viewed as a promising addition to their lineup, securing a player-friendly deal worth $34 million over two years.

However, after a disappointing first season, Hoskins exercised his player option and is now a financial burden for the team.

Rhys Hoskins contract always had slim chances of working in the Brewers' favor

Similar to several other Scott Boras clients last year, Rhys Hoskins signed a short-term, multi-year deal that included an opt-out after the first season. While his 2024 salary initially was a modest $12 million, it escalates to $18 million annually beginning next year. Additionally, the contract features $4 million buyouts attached to his 2025 player option and 2026 mutual option.

This contract structure heavily favors Rhys Hoskins. Had he excelled in his first year with the Brewers, he could have opted out and pursued a more lucrative deal in free agency. Unfortunately, after posting career-lows in several offensive categories, he now finds himself as Milwaukee's second-highest-paid player, trailing only Christian Yelich.

For a team like the Milwaukee Brewers, who operate under financial constraints, Rhys Hoskins' remaining $22 million is burdensome enough that the team is now open to trade options. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Brewers are open to moving him but may need to include cash and a prospect to sweeten the deal. Additionally, Rosenthal noted that the strong free-agent market for first basemen is complicating the Brewers' efforts to move Hoskins for less than expected.

At this time, all signs point to the fact that moving Rhys Hoskins this offseason could be a difficult task for the Brewers. In the end, Milwaukee will likely be relying on a bounce-back season from him. If they’re fortunate, he could perform well enough to gain more interest at the trade deadline or even earn a qualifying offer, potentially netting the team a future compensation pick. However, given the current circumstances, both scenarios appear unlikely at this time.

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