Milwaukee Brewers: Power-Hitting 1st Baseman from AL East Named Ideal Trade Target

Milwaukee Brewers: Power-Hitting 1st Baseman from AL East Named Ideal Trade Target 1

The Milwaukee Brewers encountered an expected road bump with the news that first baseman Rhys Hoskins will miss six weeks due to a thumb injury. Hoskins suffered the injury attempting a tag on an errant throw, causing awkward contact between his glove hand and the baserunner. Although he came out of the game, it didn’t seem serious. Brewers fans now know otherwise.

Hoskins’ injured list stint means more playing time for Jake Bauers, who has occupied a platoon role. The team also called up trade addition Andrew Vaughn as his backup. If the Brewers are serious about pushing for the playoffs, though, that might not be enough to tide them over.

Will Hoskins look the same when he returns, or will the injury nag at his swing? To address these concerns, ESPN’s Jeff Passan suggests that Milwaukee target an American League first baseman who can help make up for Hoskins’ lost pop.

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Hoskins was enoying a solid season before the mishap. A mid-order cog, he has supplied 12 homeruns, 42 RBIs and .767 OPS through 269 at bats. He has raised his average about 30 points from last season. Based on his DWAR, he was also playing much better defense.

Not that Bauers is a terrible replacement. After a strong start, however, he has struggled since June 1, going 5-for-his-last-41. Bauers should get a lot more playing time with Hoskins out, magnifying any slump.

Acquired from the White Sox for Aaron Civale, Vaughn has impressed in his first three Brewers games. He smacked a three-run shot in his debut, reached base 2 of 4 times the next day, and yesterday delivered a pinch-hit, game-tying single in the bottom of the ninth against the Dodgers, before Milwaukee walked it off the next inning.

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After Vaughn’s abysmal stint in Chicago earlier this season, however, the Brewers can’t afford to be complacent. A slumping-Bauers-plus-Vaughn rotation at first base is not ideal. Because Hoskins won’t be back until August at the earliest, they won’t have time to assess his recovery before the trade deadline passes. Making a move could be prudent.

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That’s where Baltimore’s Ryan O’Hearn comes in, Passan says. A masher of right-handed pitching, O’Hearn is slashing .286/.378/.462 for the Orioles. He has the pop to match Hoskins, with a higher average and on-base-percentage. He’s also been fairly consistent across the last three seasons, recording an OPS of .761 or higher each year.

Bauers is also a lefty and fills much the same role as a platoon bat against righties – he just doesn’t do it as well. O’Hearn would be a major upgrade.

Milwaukee Brewers: Power-Hitting 1st Baseman from AL East Named Ideal Trade Target 3

Vaughn has hit about the same against either side in his career. Manager Pat Murphy could employ a fairly simple system of using Vaughn against lefties and O’Hearn versus righties, giving the latter the majority of at bats.

Like Bauers, O’Hearn is not a good glove. Like Bauers, though, he can play both first and outfield, primarily right field but with experience in both corner spots. As long as Hoskins is out, of course, he probably wouldn’t need to as the Brewers focus on filling the hole at first base.

As Passan notes, their 88 dingers rank 21st in MLB. Milwaukee needs a substitute for Hoskins’ bat – a better one than Bauers – and could find a willing trade partner in the Orioles. Languishing at the bottom of the AL East, the birds should be sellers at the deadline.

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