SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On Sunday, Dave Dombrowski called Rhys Hoskins. The Phillies’ president of baseball operations felt like he owed it to the first baseman to tell him what had been decided, since it would likely affect his future with the only team he’s ever known.
“Talked to him just to explain the situation,” Dombrowski said Wednesday on Day 2 of the GM meetings at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia.
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The situation? On Friday, the Phillies decided that superstar Bryce Harper would complete his shift from the outfield to first base and become the club’s full-time first baseman. The decision was finalized after Dombrowski and Harper met at Citizens Bank Park “for a lengthy period,” according to Dombrowski. Philadelphia believes that Harper staying at first base will be the best way to keep him healthy as he enters his age-31 season with another eight years remaining on the 13-year, $330 million contract he signed in 2019.
With Harper at first base, it leaves essentially no room for Hoskins, who has strictly been a first baseman since 2019. The 30-year-old became a free agent this offseason after missing the entire 2023 campaign after suffering a torn ACL in spring training.
Dombrowski was careful not to rule out a reunion with Hoskins — MLB and the Players Association frown upon teams taking themselves out of the running for any free agent, even when the possibility of a pact seems nonexistent. But the veteran executive offered the type of kind words reserved for someone who clearly meant a lot to the organization yet would not be coming back.
“We absolutely think the world of him and (Hoskins’ wife) Jayme,” Dombrowski said. “They’re just wonderful people. They’ve done so much for the community. I don’t want to 100 percent close any doors or that type of thing. But I would say when he looked at the situation, he understood.”
Rhys Hoskins spikes his bat after homering in Game 3 of the 2022 NLDS. (Bill Streicher / USA Today)The Phillies drafted Hoskins in the fifth round of the 2014 draft out of Sacramento State. He broke into the majors in August 2017 and immediately went on a prodigious tear, as his 18 home runs, 1.014 OPS and 162 OPS+ helped him to a fourth-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year vote. He became an impact power bat in Philadelphia’s lineup, averaging 36 home runs per 162 games over his first six years in the bigs. He has a career OPS+ of 125.
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But the Phillies felt they had to do what’s best for Harper, the face of their franchise, and that meant continuing the experiment that began in May, when Harper started taking grounders at first base in an effort to return as soon as possible from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in November 2022. And it worked. Harper set a big-league record for the fastest return from the procedure, coming back in just 160 days, in large part because playing first base limited how often he’d have to throw and test his elbow.
How well Harper adapted to the position also stunned the Phillies, who decided it was worth it to make it his home.
“He made significant strides,” Dombrowski said. “He became a first baseman. I think he’s going to become an excellent first baseman. And I do think he has the caliber of being a Gold Glove first baseman.”
Bryce Harper, Phillies first baseman. (Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)Harper registered three outs above average, according to Baseball Savant, tying him for sixth-best among all first basemen. It didn’t hurt that he was a force at the plate as usual, hitting .293 with 21 homers, 72 RBIs and a .900 OPS in 126 games (546 plate appearances). He also mashed in the playoffs, crushing five home runs with a 1.097 OPS in 13 games before the Diamondbacks knocked out the Phillies in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series.
Harper has played 1,258 of his career 1,296 regular-season games in the outfield. Is he going to miss it?
“He’s played the outfield so long, maybe he’d miss it some,” Dombrowski said. “But I think he really enjoyed playing first base, too. For him, it was something different. Of course, you’re more involved if you’re playing first base on a daily basis with what’s taking place. I thought it was important that we listen to him, but we made the decision, and once I talked to him, he understood. He’s very happy to do it. I don’t think he’ll miss the outfield, per se, in that regard, appreciably. He didn’t express that. You could just tell the way he interacted at first base. You’re close to the competition day in and day out, everything going on. I think he’ll meet the challenge and become an outstanding first baseman.”
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Dombrowski added that Harper isn’t expected to even play the occasional game in the outfield. His sole focus defensively will be first base.
“(Harper) said, ‘I’ll do whatever’s good for the club,’” Dombrowski said.
For Hoskins, that all but means his time in Philadelphia is over.
“If he’s not back with us,” Dombrowksi said, “we’ll wish him nothing but the best because he’s been fantastic.”
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What about Aaron Nola?
Dombrowski was mostly mum on the Phillies’ free agency plans, though he made it seem like a reunion with starting pitcher Aaron Nola would be preferable.
“We’ve said all along, we like Aaron a great deal, and we’ve love for him to be a Phillie, and I know he’s liked his time there,” Dombrowski said. “But he’s a free agent and we’ll see what happens. But if not, and we’re not capable of signing him, we do need to sign a starting pitcher of some sort.”
Dombrowksi said he thinks the Phillies have four rotation spots solidified: Zack Wheeler, Taijuan Walker, Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez. Nola, 30, made 32 starts last season, going 12-9 with a 4.46 ERA. He pitched 193 2/3 innings. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked Nola as the fourth-best free agent this offseason, predicting a five-year, $125 million contract for the 2014 first-round pick and 2018 All-Star. The Athletic’s Free Agent Big Board valued Nola even higher, ranking him second overall, with Tim Britton projecting a six-year, $180 million contract. Aside from the Phillies, Bowden listed the Red Sox, Orioles, Giants, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Cubs as good fits.
The Phillies and Nola talked about an extension in spring training, but couldn’t make it work. Dombrowski said he didn’t think the failed talks would make re-signing Nola any more difficult.
“I don’t think it tempers it as much as there’s a sense of realism that hey, anything could happen,” Dombrowski said. “I’m not counting on anything. It doesn’t become easier. It was easier to sign him last year because we were the only club that could negotiate with him. Now he’s got 29 others. So it doesn’t become easier in that regard. But who knows?”
(Top photo of Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper hugging during the season-opening home series in April: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)
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