GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As you digest and assess the Guardians' signing of first baseman Rhys Hoskins, start here: This is a sensible and intriguing addition, and a low-risk, high-reward move for Cleveland.
The Guardians made Hoskins’ Minor League deal official on Monday, an agreement that includes an invite to big league Spring Training. It would be worth $1.5 million if he makes the Opening Day roster, sources said.
Cleveland entered this winter with needs, none greater than improving an offense that had a tough 2025 season. It was a quiet offseason, but Hoskins should help. The 32-year-old has a track record of success over his eight seasons in the Majors (including 186 career homers and an .819 OPS), and is also known as a strong clubhouse presence.
Both of those elements will be welcomed in Cleveland, and even in the event that Hoskins struggles, his salary is a low-cost investment that won’t hinder the Guardians. For now, let’s start by taking a deeper look at the move.
Impact from the right side
The Guardians' Opening Day roster is going to be heavy on left-handed and switch-hitters. That's how their 40-man roster is constructed; there are just four players on it who strictly hit right-handed. But Hoskins will balance the mix a bit, and he figures to help against left-handed pitching.
The Guardians slashed .224/.290/.357 against lefties in 2025, which ranked 28th, 27th and 24th in the Majors, respectively. Hoskins has a career .243/.382/.501 slash line against southpaws, which includes a .221/.324/.407 line over 102 plate appearances last year.
Put another way: Hoskins’ .731 OPS against lefties in 2025 was a career low, but still would have ranked third among Guardians who batted from the right side (minimum 100 plate appearances). At the very least, Hoskins should raise the floor here, and his presence will help against the division rival Tigers.
Detroit’s rotation is anchored by Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, who are two of the top lefties in the Majors. Valdez hasn’t faced Cleveland since 2023, but Skubal had a 0.64 ERA in 28 innings over four regular-season starts against the Guardians in '25. He allowed one run with 14 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series.
What the underlying numbers say
Hoskins signed with the Brewers after the 2023 season, which he spent recovering from a torn left ACL while with the Phillies. Yes, his surface numbers were more stout over six seasons with Philadelphia (.846 OPS, 125 OPS+) than with Milwaukee (.732 OPS, 102 OPS+), for which he played 221 career games. His underlying metrics last year were intriguing, however.
In 90 games in 2025, Hoskins logged a 19.9 percent chase rate (his best since '18), an 11.6 percent walk rate (best since '20), a 46.4 percent hard-hit rate (career best). He had some swing and miss (27.7 percent strikeout rate), though with it came 12 homers in his limited duty.
Hoskins has played 100-plus games five times, and has hit 25 homers in each of those seasons. He's going to slug, and the Guardians need him to do so. There's potential within their young talent, only two Cleveland players hit 15 or more homers this past season: José Ramírez (30) and Kyle Manzardo (27).
What about the depth chart?
This is where the Guardians have the most to figure out. Before Hoskins signed, Manzardo stood to receive a chunk of starts at first base each week, and get some time at DH. David Fry figured to work in at first against lefties (along with his duties as a third catcher) and CJ Kayfus was an option at first and in right field.
Now, Hoskins is set to serve as the right-handed complement to Manzardo at first and mix in at DH. Let's say, on a given day, Austin Hedges starts at catcher, with Hoskins at first or DH. Could that cut into Manzardo’s at-bats, given the presence of Fry in the first base and DH mix?
All of this could impact Kayfus, whose strongest path to the Opening Day roster may now be in right field. But the Guardians have many options in the corners, including Chase DeLauter, Nolan Jones, George Valera, Petey Halpin, Johnathan Rodríguez, Angel Martínez and non-roster invitee Stuart Fairchild. That crowded group is why Steven Kwan is suddenly an option to play center field this season.
Kayfus is still well in this mix, but how he and the rest of these players fit with Hoskins aboard is what the Guardians must figure out over the next month.