Guardians seemingly sign former Phillies 34-homer slugger amid surprise clubhouse visit

Guardians seemingly sign former Phillies 34-homer slugger amid surprise clubhouse visit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This offseason, the Cleveland Guardians haven’t added a lot of talent in free agency. It’s largely the same roster as a year ago.

But, there are still plenty of free agents the Guardians could go after as Spring begins. While they might not be the best options, there are some intriguing names available.

And according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic, the Guardians might’ve just made a big addition. Meisel reports that a former Philadelphia Phillies slugger, Rhys Hoskins, is in the Guardians clubhouse. And not just as a simple visit, he’s in Guardians gear.

Guardians seemingly sign Rhys Hoskins amid surprise clubhouse appearance

«Rhys Hoskins is in the Guardians’ clubhouse. He’s in Guardians’ gear, too. This isn’t just a random visit,» Meisel reports.

While there is no official signing, this is a very strong indication that Hoskins is joining the Guardians this Spring.

A free agent being in the Guardians clubhouse, in Guardians gear, is about as telltale a sign that he’s actually signing with the team. But nothing has been announced. If he does join the team, then the Guardians will have a very fun addition to the lineup.

Hoskins is a first baseman who could slide into the starting lineup right away, either as the designated hitter or the first baseman. But Kyle Manzardo is not going anywhere, and with CJ Kafus slotted in at designated hitter, the roster will look a bit different if Hoskins signs.

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The 32-year-old slugger played with the Phillies for six seasons, recording 148 home runs, with 34 in his 2018 season. He also led the Majors in walks in 2019, and been a career .820 OPS hitter.

Last season with the Milwaukee Brewers, Hoskins hit .237 with a .748 OPS with 12 home runs and 0.9 bWAR in 90 games. He’s not as good as he once was, but Hoskins is still a solid power hitter worth investing in.

This is a fascinating situation, as nothing is official yet, but Meisel’s report from the Guardians clubhouse indicates that Hoskins is joining the Guardians this Spring. If this signing actually happens, it would be a fun addition for Cleveland as Spring begins.