Hoskins exercises $18 million option to stay with Crew; Miley a free agent
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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.
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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 Sánchez ($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.