The Chicago Cubs have signed first baseman Eric Hosmer to a one-year deal. This is according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, and MLB Network. There had been speculation that the Cubs had been interested in the Hosmer since his release by the Boston Red Sox in December.
Surprise Move
It was a surprise move that not a lot of baseball people saw coming after the Red Sox acquired Hosmer from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline last year. The veteran only appeared in 14 games for the Red Sox last year. A leader on the field as well as in the clubhouse, everyone expected Hosmer to help the team in the upcoming season by providing not only his on-field talents, but also serving as an experienced mentor to others.
Big Contract
Hosmer signed an eight-year, $144 million contract with the Padres in 2018. However, he never lived up to what they expected him to provide both offensively and defensively. He exercised his no-trade clause to avoid being moved in last summer’s blockbuster trade the Padres made with the Washington Nationals for Juan Soto.
A deal finally came about with the Red Sox. That deal involved the Padres paying most of the salary remaining on his remaining $39 million contract, which runs through 2025.
Could Start for Chicago
Eric Hosmer wil likely be the Cubs’ primary first baseman. He could also platoon with Patrick Wisdom to form a decent hitting duo for them. He could also see starts as their designated hitter with the recently signed Cody Bellinger backing up at first base.
Rule changes to help the defensive shift start in 2023. Teams need to have a minimum of four players on the infield. Intended to increase the batting average on balls in play, these changes could mean an uptick in batting average, and maybe even an increase in power for the left-handed Hosmer.
Busy OffSeason
The signing of Eric Hosmer comes in a busy offseason for the team. Along with the aforementioned Cody Bellinger, the team has signed catcher Tucker Barnhart, shortstop Dansby Swanson, and pitcher Jameson Taillon. They are hoping for a better season than they had in 2022.
Cubs are Rebuilding
With the Cubs in the midst of a rebuild, they are getting veteran in Hosmer. The fact that they are only paying him the league minimum is an added bonus. Having his experience not only on the field, but in the clubhouse will be a nice addition for the players. He could also be a possible trade deadline player for them if they are not in contention after the All-Star break.
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