Done Deal: Eric Hosmer Moves To The NL Central

It likely won't move the needle too much in the National League Central Division, but free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer has agreed to terms with the Chicago Cubs.

Eric Hosmer is in agreement with the Cubs, sources tell ESPN. @JonHeyman mentioned they were close yesterday.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 4, 2023

Hosmer was DFA'd by the Boston Red Sox this offseason, after getting into only 14 games for them after coming over in a trade deadline deal from the San Diego Padres. 

Although his deal with the Cubs is for the veteran's minimum, Hosmer will still earn $39M over the next three years mostly courtesy of the Padres—the price they paid to unload him on the BoSox back in August. 

Hosmer is a former 3rd overall pick in the MLB Draft, and, although he didn't quite live up to that high billing, he did have a number of relatively successful years (and a World Series championship) in Kansas City earlier in his career, with one All-Star appearance and four Gold Gloves. 

But his 8-year, $144M free agent contract with the San Diego Padres was mostly a bust, as he never came close to matching that value in the sunny south. He has, however, been just above a league-average hitter, if you take OPS+ measurements into account. He won't be clearing the ivy at Wrigley that often, but he could be a steadying veteran presence, to hopefully help break in slugging first base prospect Matt Mervis. 

Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports