A few days ago, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Rhys Hoskins to a two-year, $34 million contract, with an option for a third year and an opt-out after the first. This was one of the team’s more unexpected offseason additions.
This contract pales in comparison to the well publicized agreements worth hundreds of millions of dollars like Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Shohei Ohtani. However, this is the highest compensation the Brewers have ever paid an outside free agent; it exceeds the $16 million Lorzeno Cain brought in on a yearly average for Milwaukee.
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The general consensus in the league was that the Brewers would try to rebuild and trade their assets, especially with Corbin Burnes heading into his final season and Brandon Woodruff sidelined for the entire season. Several talented players are already on the big-league roster, and there are four top-50 prospects in the MLB Pre-Season Top 100.
The addition of Rhys Hoskins indicates that Milwaukee wants to make the most of its championship window right now and is not content to compete in a few years. This shift in perspective gives the Brewers a lot of options for new players, both in free agency and the trade market. The ballclub still has plenty of time to make a significant move before the season begins, with two months to go until opening day. This is an absurd trade.
Exchange Dylan Cease for Garrett Mitchell and Aaron Ashby with the Chicago White Sox.
Hoskins offers the Brewers the strong power hitter they have been lacking for a few years and solidifies a significant need at first base. The Brewers still have some question marks at a few key positions, most notably third base, but their ceiling has been greatly increased by adding another ace-caliber starter to complement Corbin Burnes.
The club’s shallow starting rotation is made clear by the loss of Brandon Woodruff. Although Burnes, Wade Miley, and Freddy Peralta make for a formidable trio, Peralta and Miley have not been able to maintain their fitness for the duration of a season. Joe Ross and Colin Rea are just inning-eaters after this trio.
Dylan Cease is a prominent trade target that the Brewers may consider pursuing. Despite being in the middle of a rebuild, the Chicago White Sox have stayed onto Cease because they view him as their crown gem. The White Sox ace pitched in 2023 with a 4.58 ERA, more than two runs above his 2022 mark, but he still finished with at least 200 strikeouts for the third straight season.
