Philadelphia Phillies Interested in Bringing Back Slugger

The Philadelphia Phillies and their slugging first baseman are both interested in resigning as free agency looms.

The Philadelphia Phillies will have two of their biggest names hit the free agency market after the 2023 season. Ace pitcher Aaron Nola should draw a ton of interest from teams around the league who want to add a top end starter to their rotation.

First baseman Rhys Hoskins will also be hitting free agency as he continues to recover from a torn ACL he suffered during spring training. He's not expected to return this season unless the Phillies make a deep playoff run to the World Series.

His recovery complicates his free agency status. After hitting .246/.332/.462 with 33 home runs and 79 RBI in 2022, he would have been one of the hottest names on the market if he continued that form in 2023. However, coming off a knee injury at first base raises questions about the 30-year-old for other teams.

This could ultimately play into Philadelphia's favor. If the interest in Hoskins is lower because of his injury, they have a better chance of bringing him back on an affordable deal.

Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports that both parties are interested in a reunion this offseason.

"I do think there is legitimate interest in bringing back Hoskins, but those are conversations that are not at the forefront right now," he writes.

The focus is on the current season being played and for the slugger to fully recover from his injury before the front office and player engage in contract discussions. One of the things that's been clear this season is that the Phillies are missing his production.

Gelb writes, "Look, it’s quite obvious how much they have missed Hoskins’ combination of right-handed power and patience. He is a beloved figure inside the clubhouse … It makes a lot of sense for both sides to find common ground on an incentive-laden deal that could help Hoskins restore his value after missing all of 2023 with the torn ACL."

Hoskins has become a fan favorite after being drafted by the organization in the 2014 MLB Draft. His status will be one to monitor when the offseason comes.