Report: Brewers signing 1B Rhys Hoskins to a 2-year, $34 million deal

Rhys Hoskins is headed to Milwaukee.

The Brewers are finalizing a two-year, $34 million deal with Hoskins, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday. The deal reportedly includes an opt-out after the first season.

Hoskins has spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Phillies, though he missed all of last season after he tore his left ACL while fielding a ground ball during spring training. He attempted to return in the postseason but wasn't quite ready. During the season, the Phillies moved Bryce Harper to first base on a permanent basis, which sent Hoskins looking elsewhere in free agency this offseason.

Hoskins, who will turn 31 in March, hit .246/.332/.462 and had a career-high 145 hits with 30 home runs in 2022. He helped the Phillies reach the World Series that year in their first postseason appearance in more than a decade. He was selected by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB Draft and made his debut with the club in 2017.

Hoskins is joining a Brewers team that promoted Pat Murphy to replace manager Craig Counsell after he left for the Chicago Cubs. The team won the NL Central last year but was swept in the wild-card round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Brewers recently signed backup catcher Eric Haase and center fielder Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million deal. Hoskins will provide a much-needed veteran presence in their lineup and will have the chance to play first base on a regular basis next season.