The Brewers could be exploring trade opportunities after former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins exercised his contract option earlier this offseason.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Brewers are “open to moving” Hoskins this winter. He is set to earn at least $22 million over the next two seasons, including an $18 million salary for 2025 and a $4 million buyout on a $18 million mutual option for 2026. Hoskins originally signed a two-year, $34 million deal with Milwaukee last summer.
Finding a team willing to take on Hoskins’ salary might prove difficult, as Rosenthal noted, especially with several high-profile first basemen like Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker, and Pete Alonso available on the market.
Hoskins is coming off a rough 2024 season, where he struggled at the plate, hitting a career-low .214 over 517 plate appearances with a .419 slugging percentage and a .303 on-base percentage. Any team interested in acquiring him would be betting on a strong rebound. Additionally, since Hoskins is unlikely to be a full-time first baseman at this point in his career, potential suitors would need to have opportunities for him to contribute as a designated hitter. In 2024, he made 37 starts at DH and 92 at first base.
For those curious, the Phillies have committed to keeping Kyle Schwarber as their full-time designated hitter and Bryce Harper at first base.
While Hoskins has a solid track record of offensive production and could be an appealing one-year gamble, it seems likely that he will stay with the Brewers through the 2025 season.
Phillies Should Explore Shifting All-Star Back to the Outfield
The Philadelphia Phillies, who are now in the seventh week of their offseason, have taken a cautious approach. As 2025 approaches, names are being removed from the board one by one. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports that although the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings are done, there are still some speculations swirling about the Phillies.
According to Spotrac, the Phillies had one of the largest payrolls heading into the winter, which should compel them to make some trades. On several times, they were presented with opportunities, but every transaction ultimately failed. Even after signing Jordan Romano, the Phillies are still linked to the largest unsigned free agency reliever, despite their payroll changing their strategy.
Left-handed reliever Tanner Scott earned an All-Star selection in 2024 after posting 84 strikeouts over 72 innings with a 1.13 WHIP. Following his acquisition from the Miami Marlins by the San Diego Padres at last year’s trade deadline, Scott played a key role in solidifying the bullpen, achieving a 1.75 ERA.
However, recent insider reports linking Scott to the Phillies may offer little more than false hope for fans. At the Winter Meetings, Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported that the Phillies were among the teams interested in Scott, widely regarded as the top reliever on the market. If the Phillies decide to make the financial commitment, they could build one of the most formidable bullpens in the league.
Jon Morosi commented, “Tanner Scott is the primary free-agent arm I kept hearing about in Dallas during the Winter Meetings,” before listing the teams linked to him. “A few different teams … the Phillies, the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Blue Jays.”
The challenge for the Phillies lies in the fact that team president Dave Dombrowski doesn’t appear motivated to invest in another top-tier bullpen arm, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required).
“I think it’s more of a priority for us to add a late-inning reliever from the right-hand side. They don’t necessarily need to be a closer,” Dombrowski explained, as noted by March. “Those types of pitchers are, of course, few and far between.”
Dombrowski has also shifted away from relying on a traditional closer in recent years. “Some teams have a defined closer, but not many. Instead, you see more high-leverage, late-inning situations involving multiple guys,” he added.
The Phillies already have a well-balanced bullpen with both left- and right-handed relievers, as well as several key players anchoring their late-inning roles. Tanner Scott’s projected contract—four years at $66 million, with an average annual value of $16.4 million, according to Spotrac.com—likely exceeds what the Phillies are willing to spend. While adding Scott would be appealing, it seems improbable.
The Phillies lost trade-deadline acquisition Carlos Estévez and fan-favorite Jeff Hoffman to free agency. If the team were to spend big on a reliever, their priority might be re-signing Hoffman, who has expressed interest in returning to Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Scott’s market could soar, with other deep-pocketed teams potentially willing to pay a premium for his services as a top closer.
