The Brewers are coming to town for a three-game set against the Phillies this weekend, which means a familiar face in Rhys Hoskins is making his return to CBP.
For Joe Giglio, Hoskins’ return needs to be a teaser for a real reunion in the form of a trade this summer.
“The Phillies offense is missing a bat,” Giglio said. “They have Schwarber, Harper, and Turner...the other players in the lineup are mostly average of below compared to the rest of the league this year.
“I know there’s a bat coming in tonight that fits in every way possible. In the clubhouse, the lineup, the city, and the fanbase...I don’t think I appreciated this guy enough when he was here.”
That guy is Hoskins, who spent his first six MLB seasons with the Phillies and posted an .846 OPS in that span, helping the Phils to a pennant in 2022. His first season in Milwaukee was underwhelming, but this season, he is hitting .282, which would be a career high, while posting an .843 OPS. Giglio would love to see that kind of production back in the Phils lineup.
“Hoskins could be a free agent after this season,” Giglio said. “I don’t think Milwaukee is gonna keep him, and I think they’d be the kind of team that would be very open to trading him at the deadline.”
A potential trade would create a bit of a logjam at first base, but Giglio believes Hoskins’ bat would be such an impactful addition that he would be willing to move Bryce Harper back to the outfield.
“I’m willing to move Bryce Harper off first base in order to do it...get Harper back in the outfield and have Kepler as a platoon guy,” Giglio said. “I think that makes the team better and gives them a better chance at winning a World Series.”