Padres still have a first base bat with real pop waiting in free agency

The Padres are still waiting on the decisions from Luis Arráez and Ryan O’Hearn, who are yet to be signed off of the free agent market. While the two have relatively cheap market values, both of them are commanding long-term contracts.

It makes sense for the president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, to be deterred by this, as the team already has four players under contract through 2033.

Preller will need to evaluate other options at first base if he isn’t able to ink a short-term deal with one of them. Luckily for the Padres, there is one option on the table that not only has a cheap market value, but is also willing to sign a one-year deal. 

Padres should make an effort to sign Rhys Hoskins

Hoskins, 32, is coming off a down season by his standards in his second season with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he slashed .237/.332/.416 in 90 games with the NL Central champions.

As Hoskins is affordable, it is noteworthy to mention that he hit 12 home runs while seeing minimal playing time.

The factor of price and production could be beneficial to the Padres, as they could use the remaining money on starting pitching, which has been the top need heading into the winter meetings.

For Hoskins, this would provide him with a much-needed change of scenery, as he is looking to rebound after two down years with the Brewers. We have seen what he looked like during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies, as he hit a pair of home runs in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Padres.

Preller needs to sign the enemy if he wants to afford more important needs, such as starting pitching. The Padres have around $80 million in available payroll, and it will be interesting to see what he chooses to do in the back half of the winter meetings.