With Triston Casas sidelined for the remainder of the season due to knee surgery, the Boston Red Sox now find themselves with a major hole at first base. Rafael Devers has firmly stated he’s unwilling to shift to that position, so chief baseball officer Craig Breslow must now explore external options to fill the gap.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently proposed that Boston target Milwaukee Brewers slugger Rhys Hoskins as a potential solution. Currently, the Brewers sit in third place in the NL Central and could become sellers ahead of the trade deadline if their playoff hopes dwindle.
Reuter highlighted that Boston has yet to make any acquisitions in response to Casas’ injury, instead relying on infield depth pieces like Abraham Toro, Nick Sogard, and the now-injured Romy González. While one alternative could be to promote top prospect Marcelo Mayer to the big league roster, Reuter noted that trading for someone like Hoskins or Nathaniel Lowe might be a more immediate and impactful fix.
Hoskins signed a two-year, $34 million contract with Milwaukee after missing all of 2023 with a torn ACL. The deal includes a player option for 2026 and a mutual option for 2027 worth $18 million. Given his strong performance this season—batting .292/.396/.462 with five home runs—Hoskins could opt out early and seek a more lucrative contract if he keeps hitting like this.
If the Brewers sense they might lose him in free agency, they could consider dealing him at the deadline to get value in return, especially if they slide further in the standings.
Hoskins, known for his steady 20–30 home run power, would be a strong offensive addition to the Red Sox as they look to overtake the Yankees in the AL East. His rising batting average this season makes him even more attractive as a midseason upgrade.
