UNDER NEWS: The Padres’ main target has finalized his contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Padres free agent target Rhys Hoskins is finalizing a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is for two years and will pay him $34 million with an opt out after the first season.

Hoskins had been linked to the Padres all offseason long, but is instead winding up with a National League competitor in Milwaukee.

The 30-year-old tore his ACL in spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies last year, forcing him to miss the entire 2023 season.

He was coming off an impressive 2022 season where he slashed .246/.332/.462 with 30 home runs and 79 runs batted in.

He also had a huge postseason — especially against the Padres — hitting six home runs and four in the National League Championship Series against San Diego.

It makes sense Hoskins wanted an opt out as he’s working his way back from a serious injury, and likely wants to see if he can raise his value in 2024. If not, he’ll be happy to complete the second year of his $34 million deal in 2025.

While the Padres were linked to Hoskins this offseason, this was likely well out of their price range. The Padres still need an outfielder and could use another first baseman. However, as they try to shed salary this offseason, Hoskins likely wasn’t going to be the answer at this price.