Rhys Hoskins could help the Cleveland Guardians overcome one of their biggest struggles from last season.
The Cleveland Guardians waited until the 11th hour to make a free agent signing that could, at some point, have a decent impact on the big-league roster.
Reports indicated on Sunday morning that the Guardians were close to signing a Minor League deal with veteran slugger Rhys Hoskins, pending a physical.
Once the contract is finalized, Hoskins could fill that massive void for the Guardians and be part of the solution to a problem that plagued Cleveland a year ago.
The Guardians had a glaring hole on their roster all offseason, and that was the need for more right-handed hitters. There were some right-handed hitting outfielders that would’ve made sense for the team, such as Lane Thomas, Austin Hays, and Rob Refsnyder, but they signed elsewhere to get more playing time.
After the organization designated Jhonkensy Noel for assignment in December, the Guardians were left with just four pure right-handed hitters on the 40-man roster. Those players included Austin Hedges, Gabriel Arias, David Fry, and Johnathan Rodriguez.
Sep 28, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins (12) reacts after scoring a run in the fourth inning against the New York Mets at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesCleveland’s lack of right-handers during 2025 created issues during the season, too. As a team, the Guardians had an OPS of just .647 against southpaws.
Hoskins’ potential presence on the Guardians roster would give them some much-needed balance in the lineup and a weapon to use against left-handed pitchers.
Even though the 32-year-old was technically better against righties last season, he still owns a career OPS of .882 and a tOPS+ of 117 against left-handed pitchers.
The veteran still needs to earn a spot on Cleveland’s roster, but the idea of him being a platoon partner with Kyle Manzardo at first base should be something for the Guardians to get extremely excited about, and could end up being one of their best offensive position groups.
The other encouraging part, too, is that Hoskins isn’t unplayable against righties. Yes, the veteran has historically hit lefties better, but he still posted an OPS of .756 with 16 extra-base hits against right-handed pitchers a year ago.
With Hoskins filling a glaring void Cleveland had heading into the offseason, he could play a big role for the Guardians in 2026.
Guardians Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Guardians. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.