Exploring Phillies options to replace Rhys Hoskins, including two trades
Rhys Hoskins is out for the season. The Phillies are likely to stay internal to replace him, but here are two trade candidates who make sense.
Phillies’ first baseman Rhys Hoskins may have played his last game in Philadelphia, tearing his left ACL on a freak play during a spring training game on Thursday afternoon.
It would mark the end of a storied career in Philadelphia. For years, Hoskins was the best player on bad Phillies teams. When he was good, he was really good. But he was streaky. Hoskins, now 30, was a solid and productive player on a loaded Phillies roster that has World Series aspirations. He was expected to play a key role in that quest. Now, with a torn ACL, his season is over.
The Phillies are now tasked with replacing Hoskins. Right now, his most likely replacement is Darick Hall, who president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team likes “a lot.” Hall, 27, debuted last season and in 41 games, hit nine home runs with 16 RBI and slashed .250/.282/.522 with an .804 OPS in 142 plate appearances.
Perhaps the Phillies look externally to add depth. And if they do, one team stands out more than others as a potential trade partner.