The Boston Red Sox should be in the market for a first baseman after losing Triston Casas to a season-ending knee injury. They could find their answer in the National League Central.
The Milwaukee Brewers are below .500, and if things continue the way they are, the team will be sellers at the deadline. Rhys Hoskins could be on the move and AthlonSports’ TJ French predicted the Red Sox would trade for him.
“Hoskins is set to be a free agent after this season, so it could be just a rental trade for Boston, which believes it’s in a window now to make a run at the American League East crown and beyond,” wrote French. “The Red Sox are playing exactly .500 baseball, sitting at 22-22, but are only three games out of first place. The time may be now for the Red Sox to make a deal to land a high-quality first baseman for the rest of the season.”
Hoskins signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Brewers before 2024. His deal included a player option for 2025 and a mutual option for 2026. Hoskins exercised his $18 million player option, but did not have the best year. Hoskins tore his ACL in 2023 and slashed just .214/.303/.419 last season. He did manage to hit 26 home runs.
This year, he is hitting .292 and has five home runs. If the Brewers get back on track, there is little chance they will entertain trading Hoskins. However, if the season slips away entirely, they could very well move on before losing him as a free agent.
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Hoskins would be an upgrade over what Casas was giving them at first base. He also does not have a long-term commitment attached to him. The Red Sox could cut him loose after the season if they still believe in Casas as their first baseman of the future. Rafael Devers has already made it clear that he does not want to play first base, so the Red Sox need to take his advice and “hit the market.”
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