GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cleveland Guardians, despite employing a lackluster lineup last season, didn’t sign or trade for a single hitter tethered to a major-league contract this winter.
That’s still, technically, the case, though Rhys Hoskins — with whom they agreed to terms on a minor-league deal, league sources told The Athletic — could wind up hitting in the middle of their order on Opening Day.
The only position players the Guardians added this offseason are Stuart Fairchild and Carter Kieboom. Fairchild could squeeze onto the roster as a backup outfielder. Kieboom is a long shot to break camp with the club.
Hoskins is the headliner. His deal, which will be official once he passes his physical, will earn him a base salary of $1.5 million if he makes the big-league roster.
That seems like a formality, though. The Guardians desperately need right-handed thump, and while he’s on the backside of his career, that’s precisely what he can provide.
Hoskins, in full Guardians gear, made the rounds in Cleveland’s clubhouse Sunday morning and took in some practice at the complex. He completed a 12-hour haul to Arizona from Northern California on Saturday.
Why did Hoskins settle for a minor-league deal?
From 2017-22, Hoskins thrived in the middle of the Philadelphia Phillies’ order, with an .846 OPS. He was a reliable source of 25 to 35 home runs.
Really, he was the sort of right-handed stick the Guardians have lacked since Edwin Encarnación lurked behind José RamÃrez in the lineup.
Hoskins missed the 2023 season with a torn left ACL and then spent the past two years with the Milwaukee Brewers. His production slipped; in 845 plate appearances, he hit 38 homers and posted a 102 OPS+.
So, he’s been about league-average … but league average on the Guardians would be welcome. Hoskins’ 108 OPS+ last year would have ranked third on the club, just behind second-ranked Kyle Manzardo (110).
Hoskins’ strikeout rate jumped the past two seasons — not to a completely unbearable rate, but one that needs a sparkling home run total to go along with it.
He pummeled fastballs last season (.281 average, .556 slugging percentage), but struggled against secondary stuff. As the year unfolded in Milwaukee, he lost playing time to Andrew Vaughn, who enjoyed a breakout season in a new environment.
Hoskins signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Brewers before the 2024 season. They declined an $18 million option on him for 2026 and instead paid him a $4 million buyout, which made him a free agent. Aging first basemen with league-average hitting results aren’t the free-agent commodities they used to be.
But this seems like a safer, lower-risk investment, at least offensively, than, say, the $12 million commitment to 39-year-old Carlos Santana a year ago. Hoskins will turn 33 next month.
What does Hoskins do well?
Here’s the good stuff: Hoskins always carries a strong walk rate, so even though he’s never been one to hit for average, he tends to reach base at a healthy clip.
His hard-hit rate last season (46.4 percent) was the best of his career, and he didn’t exhibit signs of decline with his bat speed.
He has historically crushed left-handed pitching. The Guardians sorely need more balance. The only hitters on their 40-man roster who strictly hit righty are Austin Hedges, David Fry, Johnathan Rodriguez and Gabriel Arias.
They do have five switch-hitters in RamÃrez, Brayan Rocchio, Angel MartÃnez, Juan Brito and Angel Genao, though the latter two have yet to debut in the majors.
The Detroit Tigers, meanwhile, boast a rotation duo of Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, two of the top left-handed starters in the sport.
Hoskins’ arrival doesn’t absolve the organization for its winter inactivity, but he does make the lineup more formidable against lefties, which is a pivotal development.
Hoskins vs. LHP in his career: .243/.382/.501 slash line
Hoskins vs. RHP in his career: .236/.331/.466 slash line
Hoskins vs. LHP in 2025: .221/.324/.407 slash line
Hoskins vs. RHP in 2025: .244/.336/.420 slash line
As a team, the Guardians recorded a .224/.290/.357 slash line against lefties in 2025. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Hoskins hitting fourth against lefties and fifth or sixth against righties. They deployed Rodriguez in the cleanup spot for their playoff game against Skubal.
Where does this leave the rest of the roster?
Let’s talk about the fit. Hoskins and Manzardo will share first base and designated hitter duties. David Fry can claim some at-bats at those spots as well when there’s a lefty on the mound and he’s not catching.
(It would behoove the Guardians if Fry could handle a corner outfield spot, but it sounds as though he’ll spend much of spring behind the plate and then mix in some first base later in camp.)
The addition of Hoskins certainly makes life more difficult for CJ Kayfus, whose path to a roster spot is now solely right field. But there’s already a crowd out there, with fellow left-handed hitters in Chase DeLauter, Nolan Jones, George Valera and Petey Halpin vying for opportunities.
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