The starting job at first base for the Boston Red Sox continues to be a work in progress. Alex Cora has plugged in three veterans so far, Romy Gonzalez, Abraham Toro, and Nick Sogard, while rookie Kristian Campbell continues take grounders there in pregame workouts. While the long-term solution at the position may take some time to figure out, the short-term solution may come via trade.
MLB insider Bob Nightengale proposed a nine-year MLB veteran as a player Craig Breslow should target. Rhys Hoskins of the Milwaukee Brewers is in the final year of his contract. The 32-year-old righty is having a very solid start to his 2025 campaign, slashing .292/.393/.487 with an .880 OPS and 27 RBI.
Hoskins would slide right into the heart of the Red Sox lineup and be a steadying force at first base. Adding another righty-bat shouldn't be an issue. The Sox boast three regular lefties in the starting lineup (Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, and Wilyer Abreu), David Hamilton is a constant on the bench.
Red Sox could trade for veteran Rhys Hoskins from Brewers to address first base vacancy
Of course, a trade for Hoskins would rely on the Brewers being sellers at the trade deadline. The Brew Crew currently sits at 22-25, six games out of the division lead and five and a half games back of a wild card spot. Missing the playoffs is something the Brewers have become unfamiliar with of late, only missing them once (2022) since 2018. ESPN's Buster Olney predicted the Brewers could capitalize on this trade deadline with very few potential sellers this year, even if they are within striking distance of the playoffs.
A trade for Hoskins may not require a large prospect package. The vet would be a half-season rental with a large contract that the Sox would presumably absorb all of. The Sox could ask to package Hoskins with other players, though. One who could be a huge upgrade would be Freddy Peralta, who Nightengale also mentions in his piece. The 28-year-old starter is under contract through 2026 and is having an excellent start to his 2025 season (2.59 ERA in 10 starts). Acquiring both would, of course, increase the prospect package headed the other way, but it would be a huge splash for Breslow in what might be a critical trade deadline.
These teams are familiar with each other. They already made one trade this year when the Sox sent Quinn Priester to Milwaukee in an early-season deal. Usually, once teams trade with each other, they end up trading with each other again in the future. Could Boston make two trades with the Brewers in one season? It's certainly a possibility.