NL Team Emerges as Frontrunner For Eric Hosmer

January 01, 2023 , ,


His contract was bloated and he was seen as a disappointment with the San Diego Padres, but there are a couple of teams that feel the 33-year-old Eric Hosmer still has something left in the tank. One team that's emerged as the frontrunner, according to the latest report, is the Chicago Cubs.

According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, the Cubs are in talks with Hosmer to try and get a deal done for 2023. He says the talks "look promising." Hosmer was DFA'd and released by the Boston Red Sox last week, after they had acquired him at the trade deadline from the Padres. 

Hosmer only got into 14 games in Boston, and batted .244 with no home runs. His five seasons in San Diego saw him hit .265 with a .737 OPS. He averaged 13.8 HR per season during the 8-year, $144M contract he signed with them in 2018. The Padres are on the hook for the last $39M owed on the deal.

The sheer numbers say he can still contribute positive value to a team.

His wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) over the last three years in 107, which means he was 7% better than average. And his OPS+ is about the same. He's hit .271 with a .742 OPS during that time span.

The Cubs have been weighing their first base options for 2023, with Trey Mancini, Dominic Smith and Hosmer being considerations, while they also have a top prospect, Matt Mervis, who they hope can make the leap to the majors. He hit a whopping 36 HR and 119 RBIs during an impressive run through the minors last season.

Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports



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