The departing 2025-26 Brewers free agent nobody is talking about this offseason

During the highly successful tenures of both David Stearns and Matt Arnold, the Milwaukee Brewers have preached a strategy of sustained success when it comes to their roster construction. Such a strategy implies that the organization prioritizes forward-thinking moves over transactions that mortgage the future for a burst of short-term success. Executed almost to perfection, with seven playoff appearances in the last eight seasons, this strategy has given the Brewers a talented, young core that is expected to be together for the foreseeable future.

As a result, Milwaukee isn't expected to see much roster turnover this offseason; their 2025 group that produced an MLB-best 97 wins last season is, for the most part, still intact as the calendar approaches the new year. Outside of a few departing trade deadline acquisitions including Danny Jansen, who just recently signed with the Texas Rangers, and Shelby Miller, whose late-season elbow injury is likely to keep him out of the league for at least a year, the Brewers had a limited number of players hit free agency at the end of the 2025 campaign who also began the season in Milwaukee.

In fact, there was only one player who was on the Brewers' 2025 Opening Day 26-man roster and was still on the team's 40-man roster when he hit free agency at the completion of last season. With both José Quintana and Brandon Woodruff -- who was technically a free agent before accepting the Brewers' qualifying offer -- on the injured list to start the season, Rhys Hoskins is the only departing Brewers free agent who appeared on their 2025 Opening Day roster. Despite his strong start to the 2025 season, Hoskins' name has seldom come up in rumors this offseason, leaving uncertainty around the type of deal that the slugging first baseman will bring in this winter.

Rhys Hoskins' name has rarely come up in free agency rumors this offseason

Perhaps it's the presence of Kyle Tucker still on the free agent market that has quieted the noise around some of the biggest power bats available this winter, or maybe it's simply the fact that teams tend to prioritize pitching during the first half of the offseason and position players during the latter half. Regardless, there have been very few rumors surrounding Hoskins' name, despite the 32-year-old slugger being seemingly destined for a bounce-back season.

Just two offseasons ago, Hoskins brought in a two-year, $34 million deal, despite a big question mark existing in his profile; the long-time Philadelphia Phillie was coming off of an ACL surgery that was likely to hamper his abilities in his first season under contract. To some degree, it did. Hoskins was clearly a step slower on the basepaths and in the field during the 2024 season, and his batting average took a 30-point hit from his last season before his knee injury, but the slugging first baseman's home run total was still on-par with where it had been during his six years in Philly.

Then, in 2025, now another year removed from his knee reconstruction, Hoskins came out of the gates hot, and carried the Brewers' offense through their sluggish first two months of the season. Entering play on June 1, Hoskins held an OPS of .849 and had already crushed nine homers while collecting 35 RBI. Not only that, but Hoskins emerged as a leader in the Brewers' clubhouse during the time in the season when the vibes were at an all-time low.

A poor month of June and a frustrating thumb injury in early July completely derailed Hoskins' season. The situation was made worse for Hoskins by the emergence of Andrew Vaughn, who prevented him from re-claiming his starting role at first base when he returned from his thumb injury during the final month of the regular season. When the postseason rolled around, with Vaughn and Jake Bauers each riding a hot streak and the Brewers not being able to justify carrying three primary first basemen on a 26-man playoff roster, Hoskins was denied a spot on both the NLDS and NLCS rosters.

The sour finish to the 2025 campaign is absolutely playing a role in the slow materialization of Hoskins' free agent market this offseason, but taken as a whole, his 2025 season should instill confidence in potential suitors rather than concern. When healthy, Hoskins played some of the best baseball of his career, and with a normal offseason this winter, there's no reason to believe he can't return to that form in 2026. He's likely to command a reasonable salary and perhaps even just a one-year "prove-it" deal this offseason, which, paired with his still-present power, should appeal to many teams needing to add some pop to their lineup.

Unfortunately, the Brewers appear set at first base already, with Vaughn and Bauers expected to form a platoon at the cold corner next year. Ironically, Hoskins, his power, and his likely modest salary would be an excellent way for the Brewers to add some much-needed slug to the middle of their order, but with no place for him to play, a reunion feels highly unlikely.

That said, Brewers fans should have fond memories of Hoskins, who took his frustrating 2025 season like a champ -- not an easy task for an established veteran in a walk year. As a result, though the noise surrounding Hoskins has yet to pick up this winter, Brewers fans should be hoping it does shortly and that their free agent signing that energized the fanbase two offseasons ago finds a good opportunity for the 2026 season -- preferably with a team outside of the NL Central.