Hoskins exercises $18 million option to stay with Crew; Miley a free agent
MILWAUKEE -- First baseman Rhys Hoskins exercised his $18 million player option to stay with the Brewers for 2025 and build upon last season¡¯s comeback from a major knee injury.
Hoskins hit .214 with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs in 131 games for the Brewers in 2024, his first year back from a torn left ACL that sidelined him for the entirety of his final year with the Phillies. Prior to the injury, Hoskins hit 148 homers for Philadelphia from 2017-22.
Had he declined the option for a second season in Milwaukee, Hoskins would have received a $4 million buyout and a chance to shop the open market again. Instead, he will return to first base for the Brewers, who could also use Hoskins at designated hitter on days Christian Yelich isn¡¯t batting in that spot as the longtime Brewers star returns from back surgery.
Hoskins¡¯ decision came a day after the Brewers declined their half of veteran left-hander Wade Miley¡¯s $12 million mutual option on Thursday, a widely expected outcome that gave Miley a $1.5 million buyout and made him a free agent. Miley was coming off a season limited to two starts before his long-troublesome left elbow gave out and required a hybrid Tommy John procedure in early May. Initially, Miley deferred a decision about whether he would continue pitching, but by season¡¯s end, he was leaning toward a comeback.
Now he¡¯s ¡°definitely¡± intent on pitching in 2025, said agent Tom O¡¯Connell. Miley, who turns 38 on Nov. 13, is on track to be throwing in Spring Training and expects to be ready to pitch for a team in the big leagues in May 2025.
These other Brewers options must be decided by Monday:
? RHP Frankie Montas ($20 million mutual option, $2 million buyout)
? RHP Devin Williams ($10.5 million club option, $250,000 buyout)
? RHP Freddy Peralta ($8 million club option, $1.5 million buyout)
? RHP Colin Rea ($5.5 million club option, $1 million buyout)
? C Gary S¨¢nchez ($7 million mutual option, $4 million buyout)
? C Eric Haase ($3.5 million club option, no buyout)
Williams and Haase will be arbitration-eligible if the club declines its option on them. The other players will be free agents if their contract options aren¡¯t exercised.