As the New York Yankees determine how they can improve heading into the 2026 season, Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office are tasked with two tough free agent decisions. New York has only made a handful of signings this offseason, and none of them have been particularly noteworthy.
However, the Yankees are still awaiting what will happen with both Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt’s free agency. Bellinger seems to be playing out his market to maximize his value, and the expectation is that Goldschmidt might choose to sign elsewhere due to the Yankees no longer needing his services. A recent predictions piece by Bleacher Report urges the Yankees to sign Rhys Hoskins as Paul Goldschmidt’s replacement.
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Yankees Predicted to Sign Rhys Hoskins
The New York Yankees need to start making some sort of moves during MLB’s hot stove season, whether it be via trade or in free agency.
Luckily for them, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter has put together a five-step plan for the Yankees to follow the remaining winter months if they want to ‘salvage’ the offseason.
The third step in the plan, after signing free agent Kyle Tucker and trading for starter Edward Cabrera, is signing former Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who is a free agent.
GettyThe Arizona Diamondbacks could be looking to reunite with a former All-Star as part of a platoon at a crucial position.
Reuter proposes that the Yankees should sign him on a one-year, $7.5 million deal and that he could serve as the replacement for Paul Goldschmidt. New York seems to be pretty comfortable using Ben Rice over at first after his breakout 2025 season, but the team could still use a platoon option, as Rice’s splits against left-handed pitching were ugly last season.
Rhys Hoskins didn’t exactly live up to the two-year, $34 million deal he signed with the Brewers, so it’s fair to assume they will allow him to walk this offseason.
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What Could Rhys Hoskins Provide New York?
When healthy, Rhys Hoskins gives New York another strong right-handed presence in the lineup. One of the Yankees’ biggest needs this offseason is considered to be right-handed bats, as their lineup is riddled with lefties.
Hoskins played just 90 games in 2025 and hit .237 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. In 221 games with the Brewers (2024-25), Hoskins hit 38 home runs and hovered around the league-average OPS mark in both seasons.
However, during his time with the Phillies, Hoskins showed his ability to hit for power over multiple seasons.
From 2018-2024 (including 2023, which he missed the entirety of), Hoskins has five seasons hitting 25+ home runs.
The basis of this projected deal really depends on what role Rhys Hoskins wants to have in 2026. He can sign with a contender like the Yankees for a little bit less and serve in more of a matchup role, or another MLB organization might outbid a team like the Yankees because Hoskins wants to play every day.
The bottom line, however, is the Yankees need to start being more aggressive in their pursuit of free agents, or there will be no high-quality players left to sign, and their AL East foes like the Blue Jays and Orioles will wind up winning the offseason.
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