BREAKING NEWS: former Phillies big bat attract yet another team interest that could lead to a big move

The potential landing spots for Rhys Hoskins are beginning to emerge. The slugging former c star first baseman had previously drawn interest from two known suitors on the free agent market, but now a third has entered the picture.

Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith was the first to mention Toronto as a possible destination for Hoskins in a recent story about the Toronto Blue Jays’ offseason plans. After losing both Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani, it appears the Blue Jays are ready to explore secondary options, and Hoskins could be one of them.

“Sure, they [Blue Jays] could rush to get something done today,” Nicholson-Smith writes. “And they have some degree of interest in Hoskins, [J.D.] Martinez, Joc Pederson, Justin Turner and Joey Votto, among various others.”

Hoskins would undoubtedly strengthen the Blue Jays’ lineup, which already includes George Springer, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. With Hoskins coming off a season-ending left ACL tear in Spring Training in 2023, it will be interesting to see if teams view him as a DH or first baseman in 2024. Hoskins, who has fully recovered from surgery and rehabilitation, is still a health risk for any team looking for a big bat in free agency.

At least two other teams are interested in Hoskins.
If the Blue Jays are serious about signing Hoskins, they aren’t alone in what appears to be a growing market for the 30-year-old slugger. How quickly Hoskins signs could be linked to teams waiting out the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes; perhaps a team looking to make a splash will jump in and make it happen sooner rather than later.

For teams looking for middle-of-the-order power, Hoskins’ 2022 season numbers are a must-see for any team seeking 30 home runs and 79 RBI. His postseason experience and leadership skills, as a veteran player coming from a big market club like the Phillies, are appealing qualities for teams looking for a specific type of player.

The Chicago Cubs were known to be interested in Hoskins as recently as two weeks ago, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, who claims the two sides have discussed one- or two-year contracts.

Hoskins will not be returning to the Phillies this offseason, with Bryce Harper set to take over the everyday first base job in 2024 and beyond. With three teams in the market now and more on the way, Hoskins is bound to find a new home very soon.