The Milwaukee Brewers made a surprising move by signing first baseman Rhys Hoskins to a two-year, $34 million contract. This raised eyebrows among fans who are accustomed to the team frequently changing first basemen since Prince Fielder’s departure in 2012. Notably, the Brewers have struggled to find consistent performers at the position over the last decade and a half, with only Prince Fielder maintaining success over multiple years.
The revolving door of first basemen has been a challenge for the Brewers, particularly in the playoffs when offensive production becomes crucial. The addition of Rhys Hoskins appears to be a promising solution to this ongoing issue. The team’s significant financial commitment to him, with the potential for the contract to reach $48 million if both parties agree on a mutual option for the 2026 season, reflects the Brewers’ determination to address their first base struggles. This move is seen as the most promising attempt to establish stability at the position since 2009.
Rhys Hoskins’ $12 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers stands out for fans, as it marks a significant investment in a first baseman, a departure from the team’s trend of signing players to smaller contracts at the position. The last time the Brewers made such a substantial financial commitment to a first baseman was in 2011 when Prince Fielder signed a $15.5 million contract in his final year of arbitration.
Comparing Hoskins’ contract to the salaries of previous Brewers first basemen over the past fifteen years reveals a pattern of relatively modest investments in the position. The team has seen a rotation of players, including fan favorites like Rowdy Tellez, Eric Thames, and Jesús Aguilar. While engaging the community with popular players is important, the focus should ultimately be on on-field production.
Here is a breakdown of Brewers’ first basemen salaries (based on most games played at 1B) from 2010 to 2024:
– 2010: Prince Fielder – $9 million
– 2011: Prince Fielder – $15.5 million
– 2012: Corey Hart – $8.8 million
– 2013: Yuniesky Betancourt – $900k
– 2014: Mark Reynolds – $2 million
– 2015: Adam Lind – $4.5 million
– 2016: Chris Carter – $2.5 million
– 2017: Eric Thames – $5.33 million
– 2018: Jesús Aguilar – $560k
– 2019: Eric Thames – $5.33 million
– 2020: Justin Smoak – $5 million
– 2021: Daniel Vogelbach – $1.4 million
– 2022: Rowdy Tellez – $1.94 million
– 2023: Rowdy Tellez – $4.95 million
– 2024: Rhys Hoskins – $12 million