As time keeps ticking on the MLB offseason and the Chicago Cubs to make a couple more big splashes this winter, more names are starting to get predicted to other teams. One is a surprising prediction from Rowan Kavner, listing Cubs target Rhys Hoskins to their NL Central division rival Milwaukee Brewers.
In theory, adding a first baseman on a one-year deal makes sense, given the team losing Carlos Santana, Darin Ruf, and Rowdy Tellez this winter. After several moves that made it appear as if the team was taking a step back this year, however, it's interesting to see the Brewers get a mention as a team that would add someone of significance to their roster at this stage in the game.
After non-tendering Brandon Woodruff, trading Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor to the Mets, and the Mark Canha trade, adding someone relevant would be a head-scratcher until you understand how good of a fit Hoskins is for Milwaukee.
This year's options for the Brewers are slim. Hoskins can be had more than likely on a one-year deal, at the most, with a player option for a second if he's lucky. If the Brewers have fallen behind at the trade deadline, Hoskins can be flipped to bolster their already strong farm system. It's not like the team can't afford Hoskins, given that they are still 100.0M under the luxury tax.
Of course, the Scott Boras stronghold on the market still holds things up on the position player and starting pitcher front. Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell, J.D. Martinez, and Hoskins are all Boras clients, so we expect things to move slower than we'd like.
As for the Cubs, Hoskins is a good fallback option if they miss on Cody Bellinger, but if Bellinger does sign elsewhere this winter, there's no way the Cubs will let the small-market Brewers outbid them for Hoskins.