eric hosmer designated for assignment

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Cubs make massive decision on former World Series hero

The 33-year-old Hosmer will be searching for his fourth team since 2022.

On Friday afternoon, the Chicago Cubs made a major decision on an All-Star first baseman and former World Series hero. The Cubs announced that they had designated 33-year-old Eric Hosmer for an assignment. That’s a decision that seemed inevitable from the moment Chicago acquired him.

One of the better defensive first basemen of the last decade, Hosmer signed an eight-year contract with San Diego Padres heading into the 2018 season. Unfortunately, Hosmer was unable to replicate the numbers that made him a household name with the Kansas City Royals. More than 1500 miles away from where he made his major league debut, Hosmer saw his offensive production decline after making the switch to the National League. 

Eventually, the Padres traded him to the Red Sox at last year’s trade deadline. San Diego ate almost all of the remaining money on his deal, and he finished out the season in Boston before being granted his release.

The Cubs took the minimum financial risk of signing Hosmer as a placeholder until their top prospects were major-league-ready. Chicago recently promoted its No. 5 prospect, Matt Mervis, who will likely see the majority of reps at first base. While his numbers haven’t been anything special, it’s probably better that the Cubs let him figure things out in the big leagues and not hand out his at-bats to a past-prime veteran on a minimum deal.

Before he was designated for assignment, Hosmer was slashing .234/.280/.330 with zero home runs, 14 RBIs and a career-low .610 OPS. He will likely hit free agency, and could have a market for a team seeking a four-time Gold Glove winner at first base.

[ MLB Trade Rumors ; photo from Patrick Gorski/USA TODAY Sports]

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.

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MLB Trade Rumors

Red Sox Release Eric Hosmer

By Steve Adams and Darragh McDonald | December 22, 2022 at 12:45pm CDT

December 22 : As expected, Hosmer has been released, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive .

December 16 : The Red Sox have acquired right-hander Wyatt Mills from the Royals in exchange for minor league righty Jacob Wallace and opened a spot on the roster by designating first baseman Eric Hosmer for assignment, per a team announcement.

Hosmer came to the Sox in a deadline deal just a few months ago. The Padres signed him to an eight-year, $144MM contract going into 2018, a deal that most observers considered an overpay from the moment it was announced. Hosmer’s production dipped thereafter, which only added to the albatross nature of the deal.

As part of that deal, the Red Sox would only have to pay Hosmer the league minimum salary, with the Padres remaining on the hook for the rest of it. With this move just a few months later, it seems the trade was more about the young players involved, as Boston sent pitching prospect Jay Groome to the Padres but received a couple prospects as well in Corey Rosier and Max Ferguson . It’s also possible that the club viewed Hosmer as a bit of a safety net at first base, where Bobby Dalbec had been struggling and prospect Triston Casas had yet to reach the majors. Casas was called up in September and launched five home runs down the stretch as well as walking in 20% of his plate appearances, leading to a batting line of .197/.358/.408, wRC+ of 120. Perhaps that debut gave them enough confidence to proceed without Hosmer.

Whatever the motivation, Hosmer’s time in Boston seems likely to end after just 14 games. The club will have one week to trade him or put him on waivers, though a trade will be difficult to arrange. As part of Hosmer’s contract, he gained a full no-trade clause after being dealt by the Padres. It’s also possible that a team might have interest in claiming Hosmer off release waivers, as his minimal salary would create a no-risk scenario for the claiming club. However, players on release waivers are allowed to reject claims and elect free agency, which likely means no team would bother putting in a claim. It seems the most likely scenario is that Hosmer ends up released and returns to the open market.

Though he hasn’t produced more than 0.8 fWAR in any season since 2017, it’s likely some teams that need help at first base or designated hitter would have some interest. The Padres are on the hook for the $39MM owed to Hosmer over the next three years and any team that signs him would only have to pay him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the roster, with that amount subtracted from what the Padres pay.

Over the last three seasons, his batting line is .271/.335/.407 for a wRC+ of 107, or 7% above league average. That doesn’t lead to a lot of value overall as he is generally graded as a poor defender, but it’s possible he could find a bit of uptick at the plate next year. The upcoming rules on defensive shifts are expected to primarily benefit left-handed hitters like Hosmer, as teams stack the right side of the infield with defenders. Hosmer’s worst trait as a hitter is his incredibly high ground ball tendencies, as his career rate is 54.5%. For reference, this year’s league average as 42.9%.

Many of the top first baseman from this winter’s free agent class have already been signed, with José Abreu , Josh Bell and Anthony Rizzo off the board. For clubs still looking for upgrades there, Hosmer will likely join the remaining options, such as Trey Mancini , Brandon Drury , Matt Carpenter , Wil Myers and Brandon Belt .

As for the other players involved in today’s announcement, Mills, 28 next month, was designated for assignment by the Royals when they signed Ryan Yarbrough earlier this week. The Royals had only acquired him a few months earlier as part of the Carlos Santana trade. He tossed 29 1/3 innings for the Royals with a 4.60 ERA, but the Red Sox are likely more interested in his minor league numbers. In 33 2/3 Triple-A innings this year, he posted a 2.14 ERA while striking out 29.9% of batters faced, though he also walked 12.7% of them. He still has an option year remaining, giving them an intriguing depth option with roster flexibility.

Wallace, 24, was drafted by the Rockies but came to the Red Sox as the player to be named later in the Kevin Pillar trade. He spent this year in Double-A, tossing 56 2/3 innings with a 3.81 ERA and 30.4% strikeout rate, though a huge 19.6% walk rate.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

475 Comments

Cubs’ new first baseman in 3…2…1…

Someone will claim him before the Cubs.

I wouldn’t be surprised. Since his contract is already paid by SD, I could see a a basement dweller grab him for veteran leadership and name value.

They already had the chance to do that back in July and took a hard pass.

fear – I agree.

As for the Sox, trading for a soon-to-be 28-year-old pitcher with a career 6.21 ERA sure sounds like another brief pump-and-dump acquisition.

if Elon Musk shopped at The Dollar Store, this is what it would look like.

“If Musk shopped at the Dollar Store”….

That Musk/Saux double-play got me laughing so hard that I spewed Amarula outta my nose!

I doubt anyone claims him. This will be a straight take him for the minimum deal. Bottom-dwelling teams need to save their selection positioning for something less attainable on an open market. Hosmer, despite being a solid player, is very attainable.

Yeah like the Marlins

LOL…A person trying to talk trash when they’re a Mets/Jets/Knicks fan.

Must be all that historical success those teams have that makes you confident to talk smack.

Was thinkin’ Pirates… but yeah, exactly.

That sounds like you have a drinking problem. Check out this website on the internet. aa.org/

aa is short for Alcoholics Anonymous

Nice severance package.

I was thinking he has a’s written all over him.. flip in July …or August

Like the Royals

This guy should be the strong side of a DH platoon in Oakland

As a matter of fact, he could play some 1B for the A’s as their official depth chart on the MLB site is showing Seth Brown as the starting 1B, the starting LF, AND the starting RF. He must be very fast.

His stats still play in a platoon role. 19 doubles, 8 hrs, 44 rbi, .268 ba, .336 obp in 2022. He’s only 33 which is much younger than teams are asking their guys to play now (40 year olds running around allover the place at the end of this new batch of contracts).

The problem with that is Hosmer has the ability to reject Oakland’s claim and just become a FA which will surely happen.

Nationals have first waiver priority. How hilarious would it be if they claimed him after he refused the trade to them last season?

Not that funny considering he would just block it again.

He can’t block a waiver claim.

@fearthecub Yes. He. Can.

OMG – he’s an even better fit in Washington. They have no 1B. They’re giving Matt Adams a look in spring training.

My bad – they have Meneses, but he bats righty so Hosmer could platoon with him and at DH.

He rejected going to Nats last year why would he agree to do it this year?

To save his career. At this point, he’s been pretty much a “toss-in” type player. If I were his agent, I’d recommend he go to whatever team wants him (unless he absolutely hates the city).

He probably won’t go to the Nats because the AL clubs go before the NL clubs in the waiver order process since an AL team waived Hosmer.

What does he care about saving his career he already got his money.

That’s not true anymore it’s in order of record. No one’s claiming him anyway.

Actually, all of the AL clubs go before the NL clubs since an AL club DFA’d him.

Sorry for the repetition – thought I deleted the first one. I could have been looking at the old rules online.

Jim is right. Hosmer has enough service time to declare himself a free agent AND keep the money on his contract.

If the Red Sox can’t trade him and he refuses assignment and declares himself a free agent, his contract is null. The Padres are drooling hoping for that.

@outinleftfield Nope. Veteran’s consent rule. Pablo Sandoval got to keep his money when he refused assignment and declared himself a free agent. So will Hosmer.

Nope. Not the case anymore. That was in 2017 and a different CBA. Better go back and do your research again.

Is the case still

theathletic.com/4009974/2022/12/16/red-sox-designa…

Don’t these people read the articles?

No, not true.

@Scarton12 Not clear whose side you are on but yeah, outinleftfield clearly did not read the article.

This article clearly states that he can.

If I have a choice playing for the Cubs or the Nationals. I’m picking the Cubs every time.

If claimed, isn’t the team that claims him responsible for the full contract? He’d have to pass through waivers and get released and be a free agent to only have to pay the league minimum. He’d have his pick. Of course, that’s if still like that with the new CBA.

I believe the Padres already are on the hook for his full contract. The Red Sox were already basically paying him the league minimum.

The Padres were on the hook for the original main contract which ended this past season. The Red Sox only owed him the minimum for the remainder of last season, but he had a player option for 3/$39M. I’m not sure if the Padres provided any cash toward that option. Anyway, I believe the Red Sox are on the hook for this portion.

Padres are paying the remaining 39 million.

Baseball reference has the Padres paying for the last three years of the contract 23-25. Red Sox are on the hook for league minimum 23-25 unless another team trades or signs him.

Read the article before commenting.

I don’t think anyone will claim him because, although the Red Sox only owed him the minimum for the remainder of last season, he picked up his 3/$39M option on the original contract from the Padres, so the Red Sox are on the hook for that one.

Red Sox are not on the hook for 39M.

Oh my god how many times has it been said all the Sox owed was league minimum that’s it padres are on the hook for the rest

The post pointed it out. But who has time to read? LOL

Yeah – just looked it up. The Padres still have a retained salary of $12,800,000 for 2023 on their books, while the Red Sox are showing a salary of $720,000 on theirs. Must be similar for 2024 and 2025. UFA in 2026.

For the minimum by the redox?

Fawk reading!

He had an option to opt out of the remaining 3 years. Once he declined to opt out the remaining 3 years and $39 million were in force to be paid by the Padres as long as he was playing for the Red Sox or traded to a new team.

If they are unable to trade him and he declines the assignment to the minors, then he is a FA and the deal is null and void. I seriously doubt he does that. $39 million is a lot of money to give up for pride but the Red Sox have been known to let high dollar players that are not on the 40 man rot in AAA before, so you never know.

I think some team sends the Red Sox a PTBNL for him and he says ok to keep getting that big paycheck and is a platoon 1B for the next 3 years. I am hoping that team is the Angels. Hosmer was never a bad 1B, just an incredibly overpaid one.

@outinleftfield…

“Conversely, those with five or more years of Major League service time are still owed any guaranteed money remaining on their contract, should they elect free agency following an outright.”

mlb.com/glossary/transactions/outright-waivers

@outinleftfield

This comment is completely incorrect. Rusney Castillo did not have enough service time to reject an assignment. There was a loophole in the rules back then that allowed non 40 man guys to not count against the lux tax too.

Hosmer has 10+ years of service time. He won’t play a day in AAA and he’ll collect all that cash. The padres are eating it.

Looks like someone forgot to tell Eric Hosmer he has to forfeit his remaining salary if he elects free agency!

Going to his favorite team since childhood, the MARLINS…Make Your Bets !!

This is all shaping up to give the Cubs a perfect team of the best players – of 2017.

It would be fun to see, unfortunately now Benintendi and Gallo are elsewhere, still time to go grab Hosmer, they got Bellinger, get Klubot and Aroldis and Cueto, Gary Sanchez.. it keeps going!

Cueto to the cubs? I hope not. Hate to see a player who did so well for the White Sox the year before put on a cubs uniform.

Perfect fit for MARLINS, especially when Eric grew up an avid fan of The Fish, thus GM Kimberly J. Ng, the ball is on your court !!

Paging Farhan Zaidi…..

Could be. Or the Rangers or the Rays and then watch him win a batting title

St. Louis said they needed a left handed bat. He’s the kind of “low hanging fruit” that Mozeliak likes to pick. If he came to St. Louis he would plug right into the role Pujols played, except he’s left handed. DH and backup first baseman.

Honestly I wouldn’t mind the mariners throwing him a lifeline. We literally have NO ONE to back up france if he gets injured. I like Roberto perez jr but he won’t be ready till mid April 2024 for the bigs. It will cost us nothing basically and if he balls out good for him.

For better or worse you still have Evan White in the minors and Dylan Moore has been learning to play there

Now dose he go to the Mets?

My thought exactly one of the Bums that Jed will target

@Kayrall- Wow I really hope so!

Reds will sign him for the minimum now that they are finally making deals. Great DH in GABP.

The Cubs! Seems like a good fit!

If Hosmer just decided to retire, would he still get paid the remaining $39 mil that the Padres owe him?

I think so, the padres were willing to pay him to not be on their team anymore, and the red Sox too. He is not guaranteed to sign with someone else, so yeah he still gets paid.

He must be that big of a douchebag that no one wants him.

Here’s an interesting thought… and I’m giving chaim too much credit here.

You DFA Hosmer, who, will reject all the trades/claims so the entirety of his remaining contract becomes due at once.

What does bloom get? A pr!ck tax on preller for taking Bogey where SD has to drop a huge chunk of money all at once.

IIRC, doesn’t that full salary also count all at once against the CBT?

Then, Hosmer gets all his money early, plus, a chance to get a second salary above and beyond the paid off contract.

And SD gets the shaft, no lube.

I may be wrong right now, I’m particularly brain dead as this marks hour 40 without sleep

Wow, you don’t know how any of this works.

“doesn’t that full salary also count all at once against the CBT”

I don’t believe so. As a whole, all salaries are calculated for CBT by AAV, and since he’s not on SD either way, I don’t see this as being any different. I may be wrong because this is somewhat unique.

I do hope Cashman is paying attention…… no, Brian, not to pick another aging veteran up, but so you know it’s okay to release Donaldson.

Behold clip, the new left fielder for the ny yankees! This has Cashman salivating at the savings.

I don’t think all of Hosmer’s remaining salary is due to him by being released. I believe it still gets paid out per the contract terms/years. I could be wrong though.

Again, I’m severely sleep deprived at the moment, but, what I was comparing it to would be if you released a guy and had to pay out the option at the end of the contract.

He’s not charged against the future year in the buyout, it gets charged to the current season IIRC. Right?

Likewise, the contract is ended. He gets paid. I’m brain dead and finished my day with an outpatient procedure, so, I don’t trust memory. Good old Google to the rescue, and, I can’t vouch for who this resource is, but…

thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3534

It says, the mlb reserve player (40 man roster) receives his full contract value as severance pay if released. It’s about 3/4 of the way down .

I’m too tired to ight to sift through mlb rules, but, would be grateful if someone else knew the rule number giving a definitive answer

You are correct Dorothy. The only way that scenario plays out if it was written into the contract that way which it wasn’t.

GASoxFan: I don’t know for sure, but it what you found is true, I think paying out the remaining contract all at once would change the AAV that counts toward SD’s luxury tax total. The total value of the contract is still the same, but the number of years of the contract is now less. So the AAV should go up. Just a guess.

The Padres would not be on the hook for that, the Red Sox would. The Padres still continue paying the Red Sox on whatever terms they agreed to in the trade. In most trades, its just sent to the team like a normal paycheck and they pay the player they traded for.

Why do you keep repeating this false information? You’re wrong! Get over it and move on! SD is on the hook for the 3/39m. PERIOD! Minus league minimum

You have no idea how any of this works. But to recap:

If Hosmer is released his salary and luxury tax implications are exactly thr same as if the Red Sox just kept him. The Padres don’t have to pay anything all at once.

He can’t try for a second contract on top of the first. He can only sign with teams for the league minimum until after 2025. And that isn’t an extra $500k for him it just comes out of what the Red Sox are paying him.

The Padres had every right to sign Bogaerts. The Red Sox didn’t want to pay him so he signed with someone who did.

Exactly. When the Red Sox released Sandoval they paid his salary through the end of the contract. The Giants just paid him the league minimum.

Spotrac seems to have processed Hosmer’s DFA and it looks like Hosmer’s contract will count against SD’s luxury tax payroll for each of the next 3 seasons as if he was still playing minus the MLB minimum. Maybe he gets paid all the remaining money now, but this looks like the way it will be handled for luxury tax purposes. It looks like Boston is still on the hook for the MLB minimum for each of the next 3 years unless Hosmer plays for another team.

If he vetoes a trade, he is still in the Red Sox organization. The Padres are not forced to pay his salary all at once. Its still due in paychecks during the regular season through 2025.

If they are unable to find a trade partner and then assign him to a minor league team and he refuses, he becomes a FA and the Padres are off the hook for all that is owed him. I don’t think he is enough of an idiot to do that.

How many times did you confidently spew this garbage out like you knew it was a fact? Completely incorrect.

@BStrowman It’s what he does across multiple accounts. He’s also Pads Fans, BaseballisLife, websoulsurfer, PLTuna and many others.

@outinleftfield Nope. Go check that link I posted then you can come back.

It is literally insane! He is willing to die on that sword yet is 100% wrong

Ask outinleftfield about his other accounts. You can see Pads Fans making the exact same claim about Hosmer not being able to elect free agency without forfeiting his salary further down this thread. Then he’s also BaseballisLife, websoulsurfer and PLTuna (he rarely uses that last one). Then one of his old accounts (Koamalu) got banned so idk why he is even commenting in the first place.

@outinleftfield Oh look. It looks like Hosmer got to elect FA and keep his money. You can admit you were wrong now.

Cashflow versus Payroll counting against the Luxury Tax.

Cashflow is not significant to team money issues. It’s significant to the organization in that cash must be made available but the ONLY thing that matters on all contracts is the Luxury Tax impact and that’s only true for teams who will be close or exceed the cap.

Hosmer’s money is all on SD. Against the luxury tax he costs $12.280MM in 2023, $12.260MM in 2024 and $12, 240MM in 2025. Due to exceeding the cap the Padres will pay 20%, 30% and/or 50% tax on the money as well. Expensive dumping and Hosmer gets his money and potentially more if he signs.

@outinleftfield When are you going to admit that you were wrong about NTC’s not applying to waiver claims and about Eric Hosmer having to forfeit his remaining salary if he refuses his outright assignment?

I was wrong about that one thing. Are you now going to admit the hundreds of times you were wrong?

Oh yeah what was I supposedly wrong about?

Mets and dfa vog

No way the Mets love Vog

They will love him until he goes into one of those Vogey slumps. It gets ugly.

Love might be an exaggeration.

How good would Vogelbach be if he dropped 75 pounds?

I’d rather have Hosmer over Vogelbach. I know people here act like hes a decent hitter but if he puts the ball in play its an automatic double play, some of his doubles turned into singles last year. Hosmer is a much better hitter as a DH

Dan Vogelbach grounded into 11 double plays in 461 at-bats this season.

Eric Hosmer grounded into 12 double plays in 419 at-bats.

please do not bring facts into the MLBTR comment section.

@Cam he walks but he cant run at all. Hes been a part of tons of double plays that would have been hits for the batters after him while he was on 1st. Whats the point in having a fat snail on 1st base

It beats not having anyone on 1B.

That S.O.B!!!

If he’s on first base, it’s as good as two outs if the next batter hits a grounder. Actually, if I was the opposing manager, I’d intentionally walk him almost every time.

@LFGMets (Metsin7)

Man I read your comment 5 times now and I cannot make sense of it lol. You’re saying the batter after him would be safe if he wasn’t on first, but out if he is on first?

@Didlz there were times last year when Vogelbach was on first and the hitter after him hitna shot to the thirdbasemen or shortstop that was stopped cuz they dove for it, ordinarily, if no one was on first, its a hit cuz the position player would not be able to throw out the hitter. When Vogelback is on first, the position players are able to still get an out on the play because hes just so slow getting to second, compared to an average runner that would be able to get to second before the position player recovers. It would not be counted as a hit for the player, its a fielders choice if Vogelbach gets out at second

Who’s on first?

I don’t know

I had that thought running through my mind, too.

ask 30 MLB managers who they would rather have out there, Daniel Vogelbach or Eric Hosmer…

I can assure you, at least 25 will say Hosmer.

@justdadamaja Then why didn’t one of those 25 teams trade for Hosmer? They could have had him at the league minimum if they were willing to take him without the Padres attaching prospects. They couldn’t all have been on his no-trade list.

@jimthegoat are you on something? The Redsox got him last year, great observation

Yeah for the league minimum with the Padres attaching 2 prospects. If another team was interested in him that would not have been hard to beat.

Wow how far did this dude fall..

The checks are still clearing, so not too far.

I mean, he was never that good.

@CalcetinesBlancos

Your claim Hosmer was never that good is just not accurate. Check out his stats for facts.

LongTimeFan1;

The funny thing about this is……

I’ve read MLBTR articles that would have looked at Hosmer’s offensive numbers since he got to SD on another player, and said he was solid.

Hosmer’s sin is that the Padres overpaid him. (Fortunately AJ has learned his lesson – see Bogaerts, Xander).

He can be had for the league minimum. All personal attacks aside he’s one of the best bargains in MLB today.

He averages an OPS nearly 110, getting a player that’s 10% above average for league minimum is a no brainer from a value standpoint. Whether the Padres should have signed him to that contract in the first place is a whole other discussion.

He didn’t have to go to work today. I did.

Yup, he wins.

Red Sox legend.

Hosmer or Bloom?

ITS HOT TODAY FELLAS

Interesting that they decided to eat his contract. That could be what the Mets will be forced to do with McCann to complete the Narvaez signing.

I think SD ate his contract- he was making league min at BOS

The Padres are paying all of Homer’s salary except for the MLB minimum.

San Diego is on the hook for the remaining $39MM owed to Hosmer. He’ll pass through waivers unclaimed and then will be fortunate to get a minor league contract with a spring training invite.

That isn’t true at all. His offensive production was right around average for a 1B. Could easily be part of a DH platoon

Hope he signs with your favorite team.

Per spotrac.com, I don’t think that’s the case for the option years: “NOV 8 2022 Exercised a 3 year $39 million option for 2023-2025 with Boston (BOS)” The Sox paid the minimum for the remainder of last season, but I think they’re on the hook for this part.

No. Padres are paying him 13 a year for next 3 years.

WHAT!?? that’s insane! Hosmer still is a good player and would have done well with the red Sox. Unless they are making a move I have no clue what they are doing. Keep this up and Devers is next to go.

You obviously haven’t watched him in SD

Last year in San Diego his OPS was .720. The present Padre roster (counting Tatis) has only 4 guys with higher OPS. Hosmer’s OPS+ last year was 108, which is his career average.

And thus, the Padres 1B problems are now solved by just going back to paying 100% of the contract and putting in the lineup!

Hmmm, wouldn’t that be ironic. But I think they burned some bridges with him by trying to send him to the Nats without his consent, and failing that, ridding themselves of HIM, ….but not his contact. Business is business, and I’m sure many of the players would welcome him back, but his pride might prevent it from happening.

But I agree the Pads have a 1b problem

That pride thing has gotta be a factor for sure. That said, an athlete needs to play the game. If no one else gives you a chance to play the game you suck it up for the chance. When the game is gone it’s over – beer league softball doesn’t cut for a mlb guy.

That is why some guys will take a chance on an opt out – get that longer contract even if the money is low at the end – the chance to keep playing is everything.

Us normal guys can always switch companies but there’s only 1 mlb.

Oh yeah – one of Drury/Myers/Profar is my bet.

With Bogaerts signed, the Padres have three ss’s. Apparently they’re moving one (Tatis) to the of and the other one is now a utility players. I heard that Cronenworth is moving to first while Kim would play second.

Avenger – That would be the plan today. There really isn’t an option other than bringing one of their 3 guys (or Mancini) back though. They don’t really have a DH or 1b right now so and add is necessary.

Cro is too good at 2b (serviceable at SS where he came up at AAA) to he wasted at 1b. Especially with no shift.

Kim rotates between 3b, SS and 2b to keep those 3 fresh. He can play 4 games/week. Even let Cro play 1b a game while Kim gets 2 at 2b to rest the 1b regular guy.

Myers or Mancini on a 1 deal or Drury on a low 3 year deal makes sense.

Manny opts out – hope you extend, if not, Kim can play 3b in 2024.

Tatis isn’t back for 20 games.

5 SS. Bogaerts, Tatis, Kim, Cronenworth, Machado.

There being no extreme shifts anymore is more of a reason to have a 1B with great range. Tams can’t move their SS or 3B into shallow RF anymore. The 1B is going to be expected to make some of those plays.

seven SS, add Eguy Rosario (best throwing arm on team) and Merrill (who might be ready as early as next year)

T. Casas is the reason. He’s going to be a very good 1B for the Red Sox.

Because every prospect always lives up to expectations. I think Lars Anderson might get into the Hall of Fame next year.

hiflew – Yes, Lars will join HOF’ers Sam Horn, Phil Plantier, Wilton Veras and Dernell Stenson.

Dalbec will certainly make it as well.

Doesn’t have a say DFA wise, only if there is an out right trade

Depends on your definition of good. You’ll get slightly above replacement level performance. I’m surprised BOS DFAd him if they’re shopping Dalbec. They must be all in on Casas.

solaris – No, signing Greg Bird is Bloom’s top priority.

As it stands now, RS haven’t improved much this offseason and is a third place team at best missing the playoffs. If they’re punting next season, might as well give ABs to someone with more upside. Devers may go anyway seeing what XB got if RS doesn’t pony up some real cash.

The Orioles are still better than the Red Sox. So are the Yankees, Rays, and Blue Jays. Barring a miracle, the Red Sox repeat their 2022 finish.

Safe to say, the sabremetrics crowd won this particular debate. Hands down.

The Pirates are probably already regretting signing Santana for $6M… Bottom Line Bob could have had Hosmer for the league minimum.

Agreed HOWEVER. One thing seems pretty clear; Santana is revered as a team first clubhouse guy. Hos? Without reading too deep into those tabloid SD headlines….maybe not so much. Certainly, Hos can still play D and trust me, you don’t want Santana out there everyday. He’s fine as a part time guy there. Otherwise you want him at DH, for sure.

Hosmer’s defense was terrible his entire time in SD.

The UZR’s do look terrible. I would still take Hos over Santana at 1st any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

SODOM, I used to love Sunday doubleheaders!

Santana is here to platoon with Ji-Man Choi at first base and DH. Santana did pretty well against LHP last season and he was the most shifted on player in baseball last season.

He is one of the original guys that saw the shift commonly. He can still hit the ball hard. He can absolutely still pull the ball. I expect him to be a solid above replacement player over the next year or two.

Baseball Savant loved him last season. Hopefully the reduction in shift/tonned down shifts will help him.

Fun to watch too. Fun guy to have on your team as a fan. He’s a ballplayer. Plays with pure joy and also intensity. And man, in a big at bat, he WILL make you throw him a good strike.

Great discipline at the plate.

Hi MLB haven’t seen you in awhile you all good?

If Hosmer is not always a team player, someone like Santana would straighten him out.

Guess the padres got max value out of that trade.

Does anyone like this guy?

Perfect fit for MARLINS, especially when Eric grew up an avid fan of The Fish.

I didn’t realize they had fans tbh.

I can see Tampa Getting him.

Rays looking for vet lefty OF and 1B

Please god no.

WTF is going on Bloom!

What’s the problem here?

Fr, nothing wrong with this move. The Red Sox took Hosmer off the Padres’ hands in exchange for a prospect, and to upgrade over Franchy at first. Now that Casas is ready, there’s no reason to keep him on the roster

There’s the Blue Jays big left handed bat

Except he doesn’t have a big bat!

Not gonna lie, when I saw this I thought hummmmmmm….. isn’t Biggio the backup 1B

Hosmer doesn’t sound so bad in that scenario, LH. Good defense.

Bless our souls and God help us if Vlad gets hurt long term. But having Biggo and Lourdes manning 1st isn’t exactly ideal either

Since the money will be the same anywhere, it’s a good bet Hosmer will go somewhere that has an open first base job. Jays have some guy there who’s pretty good.

He grounded out to second base twice while I read the article.

Haha, as a padre fan I can say this is speaking facts.

That’s hilarious James

Hosmer to join Gallo in Minnesota is my guess.

Perfect combo. Gallo walks and hosmer hits into a double play.

He’ll be a Royal before the end of the week. He and O’Hearn will bring a championship…

How can you disrespect Vinnie like that?

I hope this isn’t the left handed infielder Scott Harris is interested in…

It isn’t

This is not the first baseman you’re looking for – OB1 Kenobi

IT’s presumably not, but he’d still be a good pickup at league minimum. He would platoon with Tork and he provides a useful, inexpensive backup if Tork struggles. He can easily be cut if Tork starts hitting or platoon with Miggy at DH. No real downside.

Rough, but $39M to walk away 3 years early ain’t a bad way to end one’s career. I’d say just take the money and move on with your life. He’s one of those guys who was overpaid for his performance and I would bet he knows he’s a guy who should’ve maybe received 5 years/$65M in free agency, got 3 additional years and an additional $79M over that.

A few players manage to get grossly overpaid for particularly mediocre careers and fade away from the game while making all star money. Eric Hosmer is one of those guys.

It’s a business first. He could not have done better than he did in terms of the game being a business and a career. He’s 33 and he’s made over $150M.

Enjoy “retirement”, Eric Hosmer.

If he’s claimed, which he will be since San Diego is still paying 99% of his salary, he’ll have to play to get the money.

You are such a peculiar fella.

Why did San Diego eat his entire contract while giving up prospects at the same time to get rid of him and not just release him? Is Jay Groome still a legit prospect?

Saved 5m a year in tax payroll by trading him.

To get him off the luxury tax bill.

He def still counts toward the tax

I didn’t get that either. I’d understand throwing in prospects to shed his salary, but not to keep paying it.

Preller thought that Bell would be better than Hosmer, so to save $5 million in CBT calcs, he dumped Hosmer. Then Bell was worth on offense and defense for the Padres.

Probably out of spite for blocking the trade that may have prevented them from getting Soto.

This. After the fallout, there was no way to keep him in that clubhouse. The team would have imploded.

Had some luxury tax implications and Preller reportedly is high on Groome. Specifically targeted him in the trade rather than just “taking what he could get.”

IIRC Preller had a pre-draft deal with Groome back in 2016 where he would take him at #24 if he was still on the board but Dave Dombrowski beat him to the punch.

Do the Padres get a refund for part of the salary they owe him since Boston DFAd him but SD is paying the salary?

Padres will still owe all but the league minimum anywhere he plays.

So they owe him 13m a year for the next 3 years

Yep so any team that picks him up only has to pay league minimum.

12.25 but whose counting.

I got a little worried there, I saw Royals and Eric Hosmer and screamed “No”.

You can’t claim someone who’s been DFA’d. The Red Sox have a week to trade or release him. Only after he’s been released can you claim him with the team with the worse record getting the claim.

Whoever gets him only pays the minimum. So guaranteed he’ll be traded. Most likely to the Royals.

He has a full no trade clause so he will have to approve it.

Does his no-trade clause still apply? I think he has one.

Yeah when he was traded to the Sox his contract triggered a full no trade clause.

He’s going to Marlins

That is a good call. He is from there and would be an upgrade over Aguilar.

Ridiculous. He’s a 1.1 WAR player. Better than what Red Sox have had at 1B in the past.

Somewhere Bobby dalbec is hanging his head in shame

This isn’t ridiculous at all. The Red Sox have a top 20 prospect. who is ready to go at 1B on their roster. Makes no sense to have a washed body like Hosmer take PAs from him

Might be a good match – they are looking for a lefthanded hitting 1B to complement Mountcastle.

Did Hosmer approve of this move?

This was going to happen, Casas is ready. But why DFA him and more importantly Wallace was Good.

Wallace is 24 and just posted a 20% walk rate in AA, he’s not good lmao

Better than Mills

Wouldn’t mind the Phillies taking a look given they could use another bat with Harper set to be out for a bit next year.

Rhys Hoskins platoon mate.

A’s get first crack at him on waivers. As a rebuilding team he might be a great fit there. He’s lauded for being a clubhouse guy. The type you’d want around the young players you are bringing up over the next couple of years.

I do think he’s more likely to clear waivers and head back to KC. He can finish his career where it started, where the fans like him.

He shouldn’t clear waivers with the league minimum price tag.

He wasn’t waived, he was designated for assignment. In a week, he will have to be traded or given unconditional release. Then he can sign anywhere he wants.

For all intents and purposes, he already did back in July. Padres had to give the Red Sox two prospects to get them to take him at the league minimum.

And the Red Sox gave them an always injured but still a first round pick back (Jay Groome).

Royals don’t need him, they have pasquantino and pratto. They have plenty of 1B/DH options at league minimum

This clears things up for Casas!

Padres need a 1B… LOL

108 OPS+ and the acquiring team pays him MLB minimum. He will get claimed pretty quick once put on waivers.

Instantaneously

Padres had to pay his contract down to the league minimum and give the Red Sox two prospects to convince them to take even that money. And he was worse in Boston than he was in San Diego. If another team wanted to pay him that don’t you think they would have offered to take him without the Padres attaching prospects back in July?

And NTC’s apply to waiver claims so even if they were to claim him he would just block it.

That’s right, Jimbo. He’ll (probably) block any claims due to Release Waivers being in effect; Hos will be a FA in a week or so.

Yeah. Would probably rather choose who he goes to all other things equal.

NTC does not apply to waiver claims. It only applies to trades.

If he turns down the trades the Red Sox set up, they have two choices.

Assign him to the minors. He then has the right to refuse the assignment, but then his contract is voided, he is a FA, and the Padres are off the hook. Of course, that means he also would not be receiving the guaranteed $39 million he has coming. He could then sign with anyone he wants for whatever he is offered. I don’t think any team would offer him $13 million per year even though he is only 33. .

Grant him unconditional waivers. If they do that, whether a team claims him or no team claims him, the Padres would still be responsible for all except the MLB minimum to his new team. If he is not claimed, he would be a FA and could then pick what team he wanted to play for.

Nope. Here’s the link again. Read it.

And as for outright waivers…

“A club may not request outright waivers on a player with a complete no-trade clause or the right to veto a trade as a veteran with 10 years in the majors, including five with the same club.”

baseballprospectus.com/news/article/11361/contract…

Hosmer has always been complicated

Shaim Doom strikes again with 0.00 return.. Should of kept Ward instead of Hosmer!!!

Dang! Pittsburgh cudda had him for minimum (as long as Boston doesn’t work out a trade in the next week), instead of Santana for whatever it was. I guess they couldn’t have foreseen this though.

So, no one is talking about the fact that they just opened a roster spot? Who are they getting?

Wyatt Mills from the Royals. See the article.

Read the article

Giants? Belt is a free agent, don’t think they bring him back.

It would be funny if the Nationals claimed Hosmer…

Why would that be funny?

Because Hosmer didn’t waive the no trade clause in the Soto deal.

II think the no trade clause also prevents teams from claiming him if he doesn’t choose to go there.

Can’t. NTC applies to waiver claims too.

Never knew that. Amazing.

No it doesn’t.

You need to wear a helmet at all times!

@outinleftfield Then why does this article say the exact same thing I just said?

He is a fit for the Cardinals. But is he motivated to play? Is he just a head case where things cloud his mind and interfere with him concentrating on baseball. Is he misunderstood? Is he difficult? He always blocks trades and forces bad things to happen. Sure he’s got a good contract. But does he have the desire to play and be good anymore….Does a no trade clause apply in a DFA?

Yes it does. He would have to agree to any team claiming him.

No. It doesn’t. A no trade clause only applies to trades, not someone who was put on waivers.

Outinleftfield- Again, you need a helmet!

He does this all the time and just thinks no one will notice!

Orioles will be all over this.

Marlins could use Hosmer.

Welp, I guess Oakland just found their starting 1B next year.

So much for the idea that the Red Sox would be able to get something for him, notwithstanding the fact that the Padres had to attach two prospects just to get the Red Sox to take him at the league minimum and then he got worse after he went over to Boston.

To the Angels!

Ha Ha Ha haaa, I wonder if a DFA overrides no-trade clauses? If so, the Nats should pick him up. Then DFA him, too.

Heck, let everybody have a turn.

NTC applies to waiver claims as well,

A no TRADE clause does not apply to waiver claims. Only to trades. People who are Googling it are finding an article from 2009 that is no longer valid and has not been for 2 CBAs.

It did apply to revocable waivers, but there are no revocable waivers anymore.

I don’t have a horse in this race but just because an article is from 2009 doesn’t automatically make it wrong. I haven’t found anything other than your comments on here outinleftfield that say it is. Have you? If so, I’m sure you can post it. If not, then all we have to go on is Jim’s article.

You’re so annoying Outinleftfield! You know for a fact you’re wrong and insist on repeating your nonsense!

I don’t think he cares about right or wrong. His M. O. is to get a reaction. To stir up controversy.

I’m vaguely surprised the Red Sox didn’t hold him since they had him at league minimum. He was never worth his contract, but he also had value. His OPS+’s the last three seasons with the Pads were 132, 104 and 113. I figured a lefty who still had an above league average bat would stick. The question I have is why didn’t the Red Sox release him before the Rule 5/40 man roster locks were due? They could have kept Thad Ward.

Hosmer is not great, but he still has value, especially at league minimum. He’ll be picked up.

Probably banking on Ward being returned to Boston.

I’d say they changed directions after whiffing on XB and Senga.

Rays, nothing to lose, right in their price range

$52M left on that Boras Special of a contract, all but MLB minimum paid by SD. Knock Boras s much as you want, but what a repping job. He’s the perfect sign for a team not likely to contend–cheap, and slightly better than replacement value.

$39 million remaining

There’s no agent better than Boras.

Chaim – No trade value for Hosmer! What a putz…

Absolute best contract imaginable for the Sox. They must have a trade partner

So why would you want them to keep a guy who has so little value on the roster?

Half on the FA signings this year will look like the Hosmer contract in just a few years.

I came here to chew bubblegum and give out long contracts… and I’m all out of bubblegum!

Said Rowdy Roddy Piper lol One of my favorite lines from a movie

So I had to do some research to figure this out.

If the Red Sox are able to trade Hosmer, then the Padres still pay the balance of the $39 million he is owed minus the major league minimum.

If they are unable to trade him, because of his service time he can choose to become a free agent. Not smart for him because then he loses $39 million owed by the Padres.

If they cannot trade him, the Red Sox can grant him unconditional waivers, in which case he is subject to being claimed by another team which would owe him just the major league minimum. The Padres would still be on the hook for the $39 million minus the major league minimum.

Forgot to say that he can decline any trade. He has a full NTC that was triggered when he was traded to the Red Sox.

The Red Sox get nothing AND they like it.

NTC’s apply to waiver claims as well.

He only forfeits his salary by electing FA if he has less than 5 years of service time. He obviously has more.

Not nothing, They got Max Ferguson and Corey Rosier.

Max Ferguson and Corey Rosier were no names in the padres farm. In fact I think Jay Groome who Red Sox gave to the padres in this deal has about the same value as them combined.

Bloom might’ve gotten a future pinch runner.

He keeps acquiring fast guys.

@MannyIsTheMVP Not a fan of either team but it will be interesting to see if Groome can produce more value in the majors than the combination of Max Ferguson and Corey Rosier.

Another issue is that Groome only has one minor league option left whereas Ferguson and Rosier aren’t even on the 40-man roster yet.

No. No they don’t and haven’t for the last two CBAs. They did apply to REVOCABLE waivers in the last CBA, but that also is not applicable anymore as there are no revocable waivers.

That article you Googled is from 2009.

But this article is from today and it says the exact same thing.

Adding on, the Baseball Prospectus article specifically says “outright” waivers. Not “revocable” waivers.

Guess I should have scrolled down before I posted basically the same thing.

DFA isn’t waivers. He’s going to be attempted to be traded and if no takers, he’ll be a free agent.

If he isn’t traded then the Red Sox have two options.

Place him on unconditional waivers. IF he clears waivers he would then be a FA.

Assign him to the minors.

If they assign him to the minors, he can refuse that assignment and become a FA, but that would void his contract. He would lose the remaining $39 million he is owed by the Padres.

Players with more than 5 years of major league service time can refuse an outright assignment without forfeiting their salary. See: Pablo Sandoval, Jason Heyward and Albert Pujols.

I don’t understand all the animosity towards Hosmer. Padres signed him to a ridiculous contract; so, now everyone dislikes him?

Padres fans had to watch him be terrible for years and years while trying to gaslight us into thinking he’s actually good but the analytics don’t capture his value. He once stated that he wants to buy a team so he can run it like teams used to be run back in the good ole days before analytics.

He put up 0.3 fWAR in five years for $144 million while other team’s fans and team announcers and national analysts consistently mentioned how valuable he was and how great his glove was as a 4x Gold Glover, while we could see with our eyes AND the stats in front of us that he was God awful.

He was their first big signing, the same way a certain SS in New York was Cohen’s. Hosmer took advantage in that SD needed to overpay to make a statement.

You are speaking despectively of FRANCISCO LINDOR ? Gimme a break !!

He was never terrible. He was average. He was WAY, WAY overpaid. When the Padres were still sticking to low payrolls, he ate up a huge chunk of that. I can see why Padres fans would dislike him because they had to think that he was preventing the team from signing other good players and he probably was at first.

Replacement level is not average, it is terrible for a starting player. He put up 0.3 fWAR in his career as a Padre… he was pretty terrible.

An average starter puts up about 2.0 WAR per season.

His game is more old school than the saber crowd really likes. Plus, everyone blames him for making more money than they think he is worth.

It’s the same with Wil Myers. When he was a prospect, the Royals were considered idiots for trading him for Shields because he was going to be a superstar. Then once Myers started making money, people thought he was a bum. It happens all the time after big contracts are signed.

I’m guessing Rays as they’re looking for a LH bat at first.

The Nats will claim him. He’s a league average hitter for the league minimum. There’s no reason they don’t take that. He certainly doesn’t get past the A’s.

If they do claim him Hosmer will just block it. He probably blocks the A’s as well. The other 29 teams all had a chance to (essentially) claim him on waivers last July and every team either wasn’t interested or Hosmer vetoed it.

Hosmer could only veto trades to 10 teams last season. The trade to the Red Sox triggered a clause in his contract that gave him a full no trade clause. A waiver claim is not the same as a trade and he cannot veto it.

The CBA that ended in 2011 had that as a clause in it, but it has not been the case since the CBA of 2012-2016.

Yes it has been the case. The Athletic article from today says the exact same thing. And do you really think Scott Boras is so stupid to have not included waiver claims in the NTC?

Oakland will get the first shot at Hosmer. I can see them giving Pache to the Red Sox for him. Pache is out of options so Oakland has to keep him on the roster or trade him.

If they wanted to do that they would have offered Pache to the Padres for Hosmer at the league minimum last July.

WTF is Chaim doing??

Lefty bat off the bench/slash dh for the Cards. This is the type of thing Mo salivates over

The Hosmer move allows Bloom a chance to trade him. Since he’s so inept at trading it’s hard to think that making him available is a good thing. It’s likely a bad trade will happen which will hurt Boston even more.

On the positive side, with Hosmer out of the way, Bloom is freeing up 1B for Casas/Dalbec or a really bad deal for an even worse 1B than Hosmer. Hopefully, Casas and Dalbec will get a shot at proving their value at 1B but nothing is truly predictable with Bloom.

Has anyone ever seen a revolving door spin faster than Bloom’s? It’s insane how many bad choices have left the building less than a year later and yet the man keeps his job!!!

Makes absolutely no sense.

The Red Sox will have to bring in another veteran bat to help at 1B/DH. Leaving those two positions to just Dalbec and Casas is a terrible idea (although I’m sure Yoshida will also get some time at DH too).

Hosmer and Panda need to form a club.

In San Diego we say, Middle fingers in the air to ya Hosmer…you took Voit and the chest moss from us ya selfish basTURD!

DFA’d in Beantown, all the better!

Luke Voit was not a significant loss for the Padres. Stats are more important than chest hair.

If not for the Drury pickup 1st would of still been a hole. Bell wasn’t much better than Hosmer. Voit had chemistry and say what you want, Meyers is another guy who had chemistry and yes stats matter but so does chemistry!

Bell was less better than Hosmer, which says a lot, which is unsual for me, to say a lot. Chemistry matters, so does physics though (in particular, Newtonian mechanics)

I’m sure the Cubs would be very excited to add his robust 240 batting average with his overpowering eight home runs in 40 RBIs into the lineup

What is Bloom doing? I literally have no clue…

What’s with the Boston love for Hosmer? He stunk once you acquired him, after he was nothing special and a cancer in the clubhouse in SD. He was never going to be the answer at either 1B or DH, even in a platoon role. This is a nothing move. SD had to pay his entire salary AND throw in prospects to dump him off on Boston. If he had any value at all, that never would have happened.

I think a veteran, LH hitting, solid defensive player at league minimum is a big part of a winning team. I’m totally confused why Bloom would do this. Seems like a perfect value play. Even more value since there are two young 1Bs that he could mentor as well.

Regardless, I’m willing to get behind the platoon of Casas and Dalbec. The match up play here could be a jackpot.

LOL! “Solid defensive player.” PERFECT term to describe Eric Hosmer lol…

Except he isn’t solid defensively. He is terrible with the glove. Didn’t you read the article?

I never once questioned Hosmer. I questioned Bloom. Love him or hate him, what was the point of getting Hosmer if he’s now left as DFA? Everyone knew we weren’t making the playoffs with or without him in 2022

Hosmer is, at best, average. Why hope for average? Plus, he’s not happy if not playing everyday. Bloom took him off SD’s hands and got prospects for free. What’s to complain about?

If we get other options, I’ll be happy but right now our offense is bleak.

Rays are going to get him.

Maybe the Royals will pick him up, would be a nice story for both KC and Hosmer, can finish off his career where it started.

I don’t get it. He’s had some decent years. He’s cheap. Why don’t the Sox keep him and be their DH? Then you don’t care about his lousy fielding.

Because there are better DH options out there.

Yes but not at his price. Spend the money on pitching or second baseman

Because you would still have his lousy bat.

He had a 108 OPS+ last season and for his career. That is not lousy unless you are paying him $20 million. The Red Sox are paying him $720k.

But you’re plugging 1B, which should be a strength offensive position, with someone with a 108 OPS+ just because of his price tag. Isn’t that the main complaint on Bloom? I guess he should sign Brian Anderson to play 3B because he’s cheap and will likely have a positive OPS+, and you can move Devers to DH now since there’s no need to sign him. Boston fans are now happy with cheap and passable.

Why not, need someone there as backup and a small Orioles friendly salary. Not a liftoff signing but probably an upgrade on last season. I don’t know other than posts on here but only doubt would be is he a good clubhouse fit?

Lot of teams can use him.. he’s still young enough and still productive, I’m actually a little surprised Boston DFA him

They can’t trade him and maybe (hopefully) another move is coming for an Outfielder or a DH. All they basically can do is DFA and wait for him to be claimed

DFA means they have time to either trade him, which he would have to agree to, or place him on unconditional waivers and then wait to see if he is claimed.

Pirates should claim him because they need another first baseman.

He’s a DFA and has a no-trade clause to his favor … could choose to reject teams.

He can’t reject waiver claims. He can reject trades, but not sure why he would do that considering the other options.

Getting to choose who he plays for or simply stay at home with his bombshell wife and newborn baby for $13m a year before taxes is the reason why he would do that.

Hopefully, Wyatt still has some minor league options left. He looked like an excellent strikeout pitcher in the minors but that didn’t translate over to MLB at all. He could use some more seasoning down at AAA if at all possible.

I read he has one option year left.

Help me out with this question:

If Hosmer is claimed on waivers, does he have to play to get his full paycheck?

If he declines, does he get everything except MLB minimum subtracted, nothing at all, or all of it?

It would be entertaining if the Washington Nationals claimed him!

Happy Holidays Manny. 3yrs, $39m still due regardless of playtime situation. If (when) he finds his new squad (probably after he blocks all Claims) they only owe him League Minimum, lessening the toll on the Padres.

He cannot block a waiver claim, only trades. He can refuse assignment to the minors by the Red Sox if he is not claimed, and in that case his contract is void and he is out $39 million.

Don’t listen to outinleftfield. Hosmer’s NTC allows him to block waiver claims as well as trades. And if he rejects an outright assignment he still gets all his money just like Pablo Sandoval.

Seriously the guy is a short bus all to himself!! So annoying and spreading misinformation like he knows what he is talking about.

Again. Ask him about his other accounts Pads Fans (who spread the same misinformation on this very thread), websoulsurfer and BaseballisLife. He muted me so I can’t.

Nobody cares LH, and super ironic you call him out for multiple accounts when that’s been your MO for years, too. Aloha

What are you talking about?

Life is too good to go deep into this with you, but I know with 100% certainty that you were “The Observer”… you repeated a paragraph response as both guys, verbatim, and then deleted one when you probably realized that you hadn’t switched accounts. This doesn’t even scratch the surface of your other supposed and alleged pseudonyms, but as I said, nobody cares. Go Pads and Happy Holidays

Not The Observer nor do I even know who that is. Nice try though. Happy Holidays!

Deny it all you like, I have the standard emails from MLBTR to prove it. Why would I lie? Here’s your walking papers, sir.

Ohhhhhhh you muted me! Whatever you probably check this page from a different browser/account so probably a blessing in disguise.

No, by walking papers I just meant I won’t engage in your silly takes anymore. I’ve always been just me, you silly goose! Aloha

Reply function on your comment disappeared but then came back. So either you muted then unmuted or the site glitched.

And not a silly take when Pads Fans constantly posts the same thing from multiple accounts on the same thread and uses the same catchphrases and has the same overall attitude and commenting style. Even if you don’t care I know you see it.

No, it’s all silly. Your personal vendetta with PadsFans is hilarious when you are guilty of doing exactly what you accuse him of. Just talk ball, be honest and maybe then other Padre accounts here will stop blocking you. (We all see it.) Wish you the best LH, but I’ve wasted enough time on this. Go Pads

Rays pick him up

Hosmer will not be a pick up on waivers, Red sox are looking for a trade to a team he won’t refuse .. bet he’ll go to his favorite team … MARLINS

Even though the rs were not paying other than league minimum was there an agreement the rs would take on $5m against the salary cap. I saw that on a website that hosmer accounted for $5m against cap.

It’s an interesting move. Trade for a DFA guy then DFA Hosmer. It does remove over 5m from the cap. That may be part of it. If Casas struggles or gets hurt this puts Dalbec back at first. I’d think a veteran like Hosmer would be somebody you’d want to help Casas. Makes me think that they’re looking at bringing in another hitter that can play first. Perhaps somebody like Smith. I’d really hate to think of another year of Dalbec. .

How 5 million? San Diego is paying his salary. The Red Sox pay the minimum on a guy who came here played maybe 5 games then went on the DL until the second to last game of the year.

I don’t know all the details but I think it has something to do with the new CBT. If you look at at the Padres and Red Sox payroll it shows SD on the hook for 12.2m and Sox on the hook for 5.7m.

Eric Hosmer 33 1B n/a $13,000,000 – $13,000,000 $720,000 5,720,000

spotrac.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/payroll/?ref=trendi…

The $5.72M is the luxury tax salary is part of Boston’s responsibility.

It’s at the bottom of the page. They just moved him there from the top due to DFA’ing him. If I read it correctly, it appears they are trying to take another $5.7M against the cap off the books.

Bloom traded Jay Groome for 14 games of Hosmer…hmmmm

And Max Ferguson and Corey Rosier!

It’s definitely not a money thing. They still have holes to fill and now will be around 45m from the CBT. They were foolish last season to stay above and it wouldn’t make any sense to go over it again this season at this point. Last season wasn’t about money it was about the compensation they lost for X and maybe Eovaldi.

I said above I think it has to do with the new CBA. I read an article on Fan Graphs, I think it was, back after the new one was finalized.

I liked the trade back then but now it doesn’t make a lot of sense. If they end up trading Hosmer then it becomes Groome for whatever they get. If they don’t trade him then it becomes a total waste.

This is likely a bad deal.

Boston got 2 prospects who can’t hit but can really run. Jay Groome has really nothing special anymore. The curve is slightly above average but that’s about it. He’s a big lefty with one above average pitch so he’ll get a shot as a reliever eventually. Likely not much of a loss but he’s a more likely ML’er than the other 2.

Ferguson, a 5th round pick that just hit .181 in A+ ball. He has tremendous value. Rosier didn’t even do that well.

They still count.

I can’t believe I’m saying this but they should sign Luke Voit.

I see Hosmer being back with the Royals or being in Tampa or being with the Marlins. All seem like destinations he’d be interested in going to and probably interested in as well…along with being a fit for different reasons in their own respects.

Since a kid, the MARLINS was his favorite team, so why not make that a reality by trading low for him…Getting Hosmer plus Turner and Conforto will really help our team with talent, and experienced players who really know how to win…Let’s Go MARLINS

Look out 4th place!

KC has two young 1B who can hit, Pasquantino and Pratto, and want some DH time for Salvador, as they also have a young C, Melendez, who can hit. All 3 are LH. They also still have O’Hearn for depth, and is LH. No fit in KC.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Dodgers get in trade discussions. This year at least. but would be fun to have him play against the padres 14 times with them footing the bill

Another bullseye for Chaim Bloom. I guess he made the decision to go with Dalbac and Casas at first base. That was a decision that turned out disastrous in 2021, 2022 so Blum is going to anoint a rookie again to the position. Didn’t the Red Sox have the lowest production in the league the last two years at first base? Dalbac should not be allowed anywhere near a baseball diamond with his productivity and that major hole in his swing. Bloom has not picked up a decent starting pitcher this offseason. Doesn’t John Henry see what a disaster area Bloom has turned this team into. This season is over before it even started.

Never say never but I’d be shocked to see Dalbec on the opening day roster. This move tells me they’re going to bring somebody else in. Somebody like Mancini or a cheaper option like Smith or more of a true 1B. Anybody who can play better defense and better hitting would be nice.

Dalbec still has 2 option years left but anybody they sign will mean somebody else on the roster will need to go. I have to think and hope that Dalbec is on the short list.

AL34: Claiming that 2023 will have the same results as 2022, you must assume Casas will be injured most of the season again. Thats probably not going to happen. More likely Casas plays the majority of time at 1B and should be more prepared for ML ball. If he falls flat on his face it would be another DD prospect who didnt pan out (Duran, Dalbec, Chavez and now Casas).

Good to have faith in Casas but nothing in his history in the minors or majors suggests that he is ready for MLB pitching. Heck, Dalbec looked better than he did when he first came up and we all know how that progressed.

Minor league numbers don’t equate to MLB performance. Devers struggled in year 2 and then blossomed. Casas never had the big start that Devers or Dalbec did. It would be great if he magically was the answer but that is being a fan not an analyst. The data isn’t there yet for him to be anything above a league average player, if that. He needs more time to develop.

I noticed you didn’t count Houck in the DD prospects. Biased against DD? Bloom has NOBODY and will have nobody for several years because players take time to develop. Bloom got the earliest draft pick in decades and his man is struggling in the minors. There are no first rounders in Boston past that have amounted to much unless you go back to the 1990s or earlier.

No need to take cheap shots at DD because Chavez got traded and flourished in Pittsburgh compared to what Cora did to him in Boston. No reason to go after Dalbec. He’s played in 1 2/3 MLB seasons and hasn’t blossomed. Devers blossomed at 1 1/2 years so Dalbec’s off season could provide radically different results like Devers off season between his 2018 season when he hit .240 and his 2019 season when he hit .311. The big difference is that Devers had four excellent hitters around him and Dalbec will only have one in 2023 so it may be a lot harder to take that next step like Devers did in 2019. Duran was a 7th round pick so he’s not any worse than one would expect from a 7th round pick. Casas should have thrived in Bloom’s highly improved farm system but like everything with Bloom, it’s all smoke and mirrors. Casas is not getting any better training than he did when DD was in charge, there is just more public relations people hyping the Bloom farm system. It’s not real.

All Red Sox fans hope both DD’s and Bloom’s prospect do great when they get promoted but frankly the really good ones have all gotten away and shouldn’t have. Bloom tossed Mookie the single best home grown player since Clemens and now Bloom has tossed Bogaerts the next best home grown player behind Mookie. Benintendi was tossed by Bloom a couple of years ago and he’s probably the next best home grown player and will probably be an all-star many times in the future.just like Mookie and Bogaerts.

Taking cheap shots at a great GM when you have a crap GM seems like an unproductive use of your writing skills. There are frustrated Red Sox fans everywhere and Bloom is the reason and DD did nothing but help the Red Sox franchise. 3 division titles, 1 ring in less than four years. 104 wins over .500. Bloom in 3 years, albeit one was only 60 games, is 4 wins over .500 or 100 games behind Dombrowski and it would have been more if 2020 had been the full 162 games..

AL34 …. we all feel your frustration. Hang in there. The firing of Bloom will eventually turn things around but until then things are going to get worse before they get better.

So you admit DD left crap behind for Bloom. What a garbage 4 years of drafting and international signings. You consider Houck as the pride of 4 years of drafting is some sort of prize. Now thats pathetic.

You love of DD is showing when you compare draft picks from 7 years ago to draft picks from the last 3 years . Ridiculous comparison.

Love how people comment on The article, without actually bothering to read the article.

What? the Sox only owed the league minimum to him for 3 years. It was the best contract imaginable

There is no prize for the team with the best contracts. If there was, Oakland and Pittsburgh would be the finalists. Is that the direction you want in Boston?

I’m sure Kansas City would love to have their World Series hero back and he would love to go there but they are actually deep with first base prospects.

Well, the Padres are still looking for a first baseman.

I’d then say that “stranger things have happened”. But that would not be true.

If the Padres re-sign Eric Hosmer, that indeed would be the strangest baseball thing that ever happened. That’s why I’m rooting for it.

Hosmer must be a head case and that is why they are paying the guys salary to play for another team

Sox are losers

Specifically Chaim.

Sox are losers I don’t get this move

The guy that got sick when he read this was Dolan. He had recently approved a way over the top (by his standards) two year contract for Josh Bell. If Bell hasn’t yet passed the physical he’s probably on the phone with the doctor now. Everyone wants to shame Reinsdorf for being cheap yet Dolan wears the crown. Compare Jose Ramirez’s contract to Bogarts.

Hosmer at 12.8 million per season, pass. Hosmer at the league minimum I would be interested. On the downside, he doesn’t play a good 1st base, and he can’t move to other positions, plus he swings a league average bat.

Time machine back and tell Preller. What a horrible deal from day one.

The Marlins need him! They have zero defense or offense at first base since this moron of a GM handed the Pirates a star player. Might as well add a glove to the position

So… Wyatt Mills is better than Thad Ward?

The DFAs for signings make sense. This one does not to me.

Is Thad Ward healthier than Wyatt Mills?

Without being able to look at medical reports (and Red Sox FO has) there’s no way to know.

Is Thad Ward as healthy as Wyatt Mills?

Bargain deals! Rays are coming for this one

Can someone clear up why cutting Hosmer today makes any sense now and cutting Jeter Downs earlier for the roster spot? Why couldnt we keep Downs in AAA and cut Hosmer for the roster spot we needed?

Sorry I’m an idiot I saw the trade but missed the minoreague part of the pitcher we gave up.

HEEEEYYYYYYY Minassian. A backup 1B incase Walsh is still ineffective or hurt and you only have to pay minimum. Get. It. A. Trade. Done.

Bet the Red Sox wish they got to outright Hosmer without paying him, huh skippy?

I can see the Jays taking a run here given their need for a left handed bat and having no money left to spend.

This Comments section holds the record for most “on the hook” references. Are you on the hook? Why yes, I’m on the hook.

Fair trade. A reliever that’s ready now for a potential better one if they get his control figured out.

We all know Hosmer is going to go to TB or Texas/Houston and rock out 2023 while they pay him 800K to do it.

Also, getting paid that 39M in Florida/Texas will save him at least a good 2M in taxes

I wish him all the best

he should’ve taken the chance with nationals. probably would have remained on that roster. karma sucks

He clearly doesn’t want to play for a loser if the money is the same, which it is.

Red Sox fans have to be going berserk, they’ll definitely finish last in the AL East

The Padres surely hope hosmer does something stupid or evil (crash a motorcycle or murder a family of four) so they get out of paying him.

I hear AJ Preller ordered an ATV, a case of Jack Daniels and an assault weapon for his Christmas present.

Crikes – So inappropriate.

I could see Hosmer being the Braves DH.

Texas’s new left fielder

Honestly surprised KC didn’t claim him.

Why? If they wanted him last summer all they had to do was beat the Red Sox’s “you pay his contract down to the league minimum AND attach two prospects” trade proposal. And If they didn’t want him last summer I find it hard to believe they would change their minds based on anything that has happened since then.

Pirates should sign him so they can form a firstbase rotation.

I know he’s not the best first baseman in the league but who wouldn’t take a flyer on Hosmer at league minimum for a couple seasons?

He could choose to play in Florida because he lives there and he should have a newborn by now, according to Wikipedia, since he and his wife announced her pregnancy in April.

There’s no reason for MIA not to claim him. League minimum, and it fills one of several holes on their roster which Ng has not addressed. It’s a no-brainer.

he’ll find a job somewhere.

Mets are going to swoop in and pick him up on league minimum. Another pierce to their 2023 championship.

Dump Vogelback

Going to MARLINS … Make Your Bet !!

That would make sense for Miami

Mets should pickup Hosmer as DH and send Fatman to Dunkin Donuts. Time to get rid of Ruf as well.

Vogelbach is decent

Hosmer is a much better stick and he only gets minimum

The answer to the Giants prayers.

Another good addition by Perry Minasian. Can play 1st and some OF.

Even though he “could” get league minimum, I think he’ll get a new contract. Seems too many teams are interested.

3.5 Mil on a 1 year deal?

Not allowed. When a player is released he can only sign for the league minimum and that isn’t on top of their old contract it comes out of their old contract.

Ah! Good on you, thx.

Sf giants.?

Sox were paying this guy the minimum to play 1b, DH, bench depth. They get rid of him and sign Turner for millions to play DH, bench depth, and maybe 1B, I don’t get it.

Turner has established himself as a solid hitter but I do agree it was a bit foolish to DFA him.

Where’s the love for Hosmer lol, ex-Royals are getting cut, even Moustakas by the Reds was designated, maybe the 2 of them should go back to KC lol

I still can’t figure out what in the world San Diego was thinking when they gave him this contract.

it’s right up there with JBJ’s 13 mils a year lol

I question Hosmer’s desire. He went on the DL almost immediately when Boston picked him up and stayed there until almost the second to the last game of the season.

Carpenter hads already been signed or reached an agreement with the Padres.

This boys and girls, is why you NEVER offer a long term obscene contract. The big ones signed this year will be huge albatrosses in 3-5 years.

Depends on the player and contract. Having to cut a player at the end of a deal doesn’t mean the deal was bad. It’s the value provided up front, and frankly we have no access to the

…the business impact players bring. Judge, for example, will almost assuredly pay for his contract with additional revenue in the front half of the deal. Teams know their revenue streams and the impact players have on finances.

That all said, there was no defense to Hosmer’s deal at the time, and there certainly isn’t now!

You’re only looking at revenue generated by sales. It’s much more complicated than that. Every team has a finite amount of financial resources. If money s tied up in a bad contract, then players that could help the team (and revenue) down he road, never get sign/obtained.

Just say no O’s, just say no.

Pirates – you just can’t have enough guys that can play first base

In the last 9 months Former Royal World Series champs Hosmer, Moustakas, Escobar and Cain all have been released by their organizations.

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Eric Hosmer DFA: Cubs designate veteran first baseman for assignment after offensive struggles all season

Hosmer was hitting just .234/.280/.330 on the year.

As part of a series of rosters moves Friday, the Chicago Cubs designated veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer for assignment, the team announced. The move cleared both a 26-man and 40-man roster spot for outfielder Mike Tauchman . Here is the full set of roster moves Chicago made prior to their series opener with the Philadelphia Phillies :

• IF Nico Hoerner activated off injured list.
• IF Edwin Ríos recalled from Triple-A.
• OF Mike Tauchman called up from Triple-A.
• RHP Keegan Thompson optioned to Triple-A.
• OF Cody Bellinger placed on 10-day injured list (knee).
• 1B Eric Hosmer designated for assignment.

Hoerner is returning from a relatively minor hamstring injury that has sidelined him since May 9. Bellinger has a left knee contusion after crashing into the outfield wall making a catch earlier this week. The injury is not considered serious and Bellinger is expected to return after the minimum 10 days. Here's the catch and injury:

As for Hosmer, the 33-year-old has slashed .234/.280/.330 with two home runs in exactly 100 plate appearances this season. Top prospect Matt Mervis was called up to play first base earlier this month and the Cubs typically rotate players through the DH spot, with Trey Mancini getting the most at-bats there. Hosmer was not producing and he did not have a defined role.

Hosmer is owed the balance of his $13 million salary this season plus another $26 million from 2024-25. The San Diego Padres are paying just about all of that, however. The Boston Red Sox , who acquired Hosmer at last summer's trade deadline and released him over the winter, owe him the league minimum from 2023-25. The Cubs only owe Hosmer the league minimum in 2023.

Once Hosmer clears waivers and is released, any team could sign him for the prorated league minimum. He does offer leadership skills and championship pedigree (including a World Series ring with the Royals, a Silver Slugger and four Gold Gloves), though Hosmer has been an average at best hitter for five years now. He may not draw much interest until another team suffers an injury and has a need at first base.

The Cubs enter play Friday with a 19-24 record. They are 7-17 since April 21, the worst record in the National League.

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Jayson tatum scores 33 points, leads celtics to game 3 victory, red sox designate eric hosmer for assignment after minor league swap with royals, hosmer struggled in 14 games with sox last year.

After sending Groome to the San Diego Padres as part of the trade that brought former All-Star, Gold Glover and World Series champion Eric Hosmer to Boston in July, the Red Sox dumped Hosmer on Friday afternoon.

In completing a small trade of minor league depth guys, swapping righty Jacob Wallace for Royals’ righty Wyatt Mills, the Sox needed to clear a 40-man roster spot and Hosmer was the casualty, as the Sox designated him for assignment in the process.

It’s not like Hosmer was impactful during his brief cameo in Boston. The 33-year-old first baseman hit just .244 with a .631 OPS in 14 games before an injury ended his season. It was always expected that Triston Casas would be the first baseman of the future, despite the Padres paying the entire $39 million owed to Hosmer over the next three years.

But the Sox’ willingness to part with Groome, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2016 draft whose curveball was once compared to Clayton Kershaw’s, could come into question if Groome develops into a big league starter.

After injuries derailed his minor league journey as a prospect, Groome started to find his way again last season. And after joining the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, El Paso, Groome fired 51-1/3 strong innings, striking out 44 batters with a 3.16 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

The saving grace for the Red Sox will have to be the other minor leaguers the Padres sent over along with Hosmer: Corey Rosier and Max Ferguson, who hit .163 and .181, respectively, with Single-A Greenville following the trade.

At least the first base picture cleared up a little bit on Friday. It’s now apparent that Hosmer isn’t going to be in the mix, not that was he expected to contribute much, and that Casas is the guy the Red Sox are counting on. Bobby Dalbec, who was rumored to be a trade candidate earlier this offseason, remains on the roster as well.

The news comes one day after the Red Sox designated Jeter Downs for assignment. Downs was the top prospect acquired in the Mookie Betts trade with the Dodgers almost three years ago.

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Red Sox DFA Eric Hosmer, acquire RHP Wyatt Mills from Royals

• Associated Press

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox designated veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer for assignment on Friday to make room for right-hander Wyatt Mills , who was acquired from Kansas City for minor league righty Jacob Wallace.

Hosmer, 33, batted .268 with eight home runs and 44 RBIs last season, when he was traded to the Red Sox from San Diego . In a 12-year career with the Royals, Padres and Red Sox, Hosmer has batted .277 with 196 homers and 879 RBIs.

Mills, 27, was 0-1 with a 4.60 ERA last season with Seattle and Kansas City.

Wallace, 24, had a 3.81 ERA in 47 appearances for Double-A Portland.

Also on Friday, the Red Sox traded utilityman Hoy Park to Atlanta for a player to be named or cash. Park, 26, hit .216 with two home runs for the Pirates last season. They traded him to Boston last month for minor league pitcher Inmer Lobo.

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Red Sox acquire Wyatt Mills from Royals, designate Eric Hosmer for assignment

The Red Sox have acquired right-hander Wyatt Mills from the Royals in exchange for relief prospect Jacob Wallace, the club announced on Friday . In order to make room for Mills on the 40-man roster, first baseman Eric Hosmer was designated for assignment.

Mills, who turns 28 next month, was designated for assignment himself earlier this week. The righty split the 2022 season between the Mariners and Royals and posted a 4.60 ERA — but much more respectable 3.62 FIP — with 26 strikeouts to 13 walks over 27 appearances spanning 29 1/3 innings of work.

A former third-round draft pick of the Mariners out of Gonzaga University in 2017, Mills first broke in with Seattle in May 2021. He pitched to a 9.95 ERA and 4.35 FIP with 11 strikeouts to seven walks across 11 outings (12 2/3 innings) last season and opened the 2022 campaign at Triple-A Tacoma.

The Mariners recalled Mills in late April and he proceeded to put up a 4.15 ERA (3.46 FIP) with six punchouts to three walks in his first eight appearances (8 2/3 innings) of the season before being traded to to the Royals with fellow righty William Fleming in exchange for Carlos Santana on June 27.

With Kansas City, Mills produced a 4.79 ERA and 3.69 FIP with twice as many strikeouts as walks (20-to-10) over two stints and 19 appearances (20 2/3 innings) out of the Royals bullpen down the stretch this season. The 27-year-old lost his spot on the Royals’ 40-man roster when the club signed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year, $3 million contract on Tuesday.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, Mills possesses a sidearm delivery and operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s four-seam fastball, a low-80s slider, and a low-90s sinker, per Baseball Savant. The Washington state native held opposing hitters to a .167 batting average against with his four-seamer (his most frequently-used offering) this year.

Mills has one minor-league option remaining and is not arbitration-eligible until 2026. He owns a lifetime 2.60 ERA over 62 1/3 career innings at the Triple-A level and figures to provide the Red Sox with some additional bullpen depth in 2023, if not beyond.

Going back to Kansas City in exchange for Mills is Wallace, the 24-year-old relief prospect the Red Sox originally acquired from the Rockies as the player to be named later in the August 2020 trade that sent Kevin Pillar to Colorado.

Wallace, who hails from Methuen, Mass., spent the entirety of the 2022 season with Double-A Portland . The right-hander out of UConn. forged a 3.81 ERA and 5.81 FIP with 76 strikeouts to 49 walks over 47 relief outings (56 2/3 innings) for the Sea Dogs. He was a candidate to be added to Boston’s 40-man roster last month, but was left off and was passed over in last week’s Rule 5 Draft. SoxProspects.com had Wallace as the No. 45 prospect in the organization, noting that his command and control need significant refinement.

Finally, we arrive at Hosmer, who was designated for assignment in order to make room for Mills on the 40-man roster. The Red Sox acquired Hosmer (as well as minor-leaguers Corey Rosier and Max Ferguson) from the Padres for pitching prospect Jay Groome in early August.

Hosmer appeared in just 14 games for Boston and batted .244/.320/.311 with three doubles, four RBIs, and six runs scored. The 33-year-old was placed on the injured list with low back inflammation on Aug. 21 and did not return until the final series of the season against the Rays.

While Hosmer was sidelined, the Red Sox called up top prospect Triston Casas from Triple-A Worcester. Casas, a left-handed hitting first baseman, slashed .197/.358/.408 with five home runs and 12 RBIs across 27 games (95 plate appearances) to close out the season. Considering the fact that Casas and Hosmer both hit from the left side of the plate and primarily play first base, the latter became somewhat redundant this offseason thanks to the former’s emergence in the fall.

The Red Sox will now have the next seven days to either trade, release, or waive Hosmer, who opted into the final three years and $39 million of his contract last month . As part of the deal that sent Hosmer from San Diego to Boston, though, the Padres agreed to pay the remainder of Hosmer’s salary down to the major-league minimum. That means that another club could claim Hosmer off waivers without needed to make much of a financial commitment to him moving forward.

Hosmer, who does not turn 34 until next October, did gain a full no-trade clause when he was dealt from the Padres to the Red Sox over the summer, so he would have to approve a move if Boston elects to trade him. The Red Sox could also elect to simply release Hosmer since the Padres remain on the hook for the bulk of his contract through 2025.

Following Friday’s series of moves, the Red Sox’ 40-man roster is now at full capacity.

(Picture of Wyatt Mills: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

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Blogging about the Boston Red Sox since April '17. Also support Tottenham Hotspur. View all posts by Brendan Campbell

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Cubs DFA Eric Hosmer

The Chicago Cubs designated former All-Star first baseman Eric Hosmer for assignment, the team announced Friday.

The move headlines a flurry of activity by the Cubs, including placing outfielder Cody Bellinger on the 10-day injured list with a left knee contusion and reinstating second baseman Nico Hoerner from the IL. The club also brought up infielder Edwin Rios and outfielder Mike Tauchman from the minors while optioning right-handed reliever Keegan Thompson to Triple-A Iowa.

Chicago added Hosmer this past offseason on a one-year deal at the league-minimum $720,000.

Through 31 games with the Cubs, Hosmer hit .234/.280/.330 with two homers. He also posted a .610 OPS (67 OPS+) and lost playing time to rookie slugger Matt Mervis, who Chicago called up in early May. The 25-year-old has one homer and one double through 10 contests.

On decision to DFA Eric Hosmer, Ross said there were a lot of underlying reasons but main one: though Morel can play CF, the Cubs wanted true a CF on roster with Bellinger on IL. That meant 40-man spot for Tauchman. Ross: "If Belli doesn't go down Hosmer's probably still here." — Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 19, 2023

The San Diego Padres are still paying Hosmer roughly $13 million per season through the 2025 campaign. The Padres attempted to move the four-time Gold Glove winner to the Washington Nationals prior to last year's trade deadline, but the 33-year-old vetoed the deal as he had no-trade protection for certain teams. Hosmer eventually got traded to the Boston Red Sox, with San Diego retaining all salary beyond 2022.

A veteran of 13 seasons, Hosmer helped lead the Kansas City Royals to a World Series in 2015 and was honored as a Silver Slugger in 2017.

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Cubs shuffle deck with Bellinger to IL, Hosmer designated for assignment

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Chicago Cubs placed outfielder Cody Bellinger on the injured list Friday, sent struggling reliever Keegan Thompson back to Triple-A Iowa and designating former All-Star first baseman Eric Hosmer for assignment.

To fill the roster gaps by the moves, Chicago activated infielder Nico Horner from the injured list and brought infielder Edwin Rios and outfielder Mike Tauchman up from Iowa.

Bellinger suffered a left knee contusion on Monday night making a grab against the wall in right-center against Houston. Tauchman was called up to be outfield replacement for Bellinger, who was hitting .271 with seven homers and 20 RBIs.

Hosmer, 33, helped Kansas City win the World Series in 2015. He hit .234 with two homers and 14 at-bats in 94 at-bats for Chicago.

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Cubs' Eric Hosmer: Designated for assignment

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Hosmer was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Friday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

The 33-year-old first baseman was slashing just .234/.280/.330 through 31 games (100 plate appearances) this season and had barely seen the field since the promotion of Matt Mervis. Hosmer is still owed about $32 million on his contract, but the Padres are on the hook for the majority of that. Chicago signed him to a deal worth the MLB minimum in January.

Eric Hosmer: Calls end to career

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Cubs Make Eric Hosmer Deal Official, DFA Mark Leiter Jr.

The Cubs officially announced Friday that they have agreed to terms with first baseman Eric Hosmer on a one-year major league contract. Terms were not disclosed, but Hosmer will earn the league minimum of $720,000 because the Padres are still on the hook for the remainder of his salary for the next three seasons. In order to make room for Hosmer on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. has been designated for assignment.

The 33-year-old Hosmer has a pretty full trophy case from his time in Kansas City, including an All-Star appearance, four Gold Gloves, and a World Series title. That led him to an eight-year, $144 million deal in San Diego that the Padres are now eating over $40 million of just to move on. There had been rumors for at least the last year that the Cubs or another team would try to “buy” prospects from San Diego in exchange for taking on Hosmer’s contract, so you can imagine why the guy might not have been all that happy there toward the end.

Though his defense is no longer elite and power isn’t one of his hallmarks, Hosmer does at least have one of the highest groundball rates in the game. Wait, that’s only a good thing if you’re a pitcher. While it’s typically very bad for hitters and may still be moving forward, new shift limitations could end up benefiting Hosmer more than other lefty batters who have different batted-ball profiles.

Since Hosmer debuted in 2011, only 20 players (min. 1,000 plate appearances) have hit the ball on the ground more frequently than his 54.5% career rate. He’s been at 55.5% and 56.8% the last two seasons, putting him 10th in MLB during that span. If Hosmer can continue to hit the ball relatively hard, however, a lot more of those grounders to the right side should sneak through for hits.

He’s no longer an impact hitter, but he should be an above-average offensive producer who provides a high floor with a pretty low ceiling. When you’re talking about a one-year contract for the league minimum, that’s a good return. Now I just have to keep hoping the Cubs see this as a way to support Matt Mervis at first base/DH rather than keeping Mash in the minors.

I was mildly surprised to see Leiter on the other end of this move because he was really good for the Cubs out of the bullpen and felt like one of those underrated guys they like to have around. He signed a minor league contract with Chicago in December of 2021 and went 2-7 with a 3.99 ERA and three saves in 35 games for the Cubs. If we remove his four starts, he had a 2.87 ERA with 3.4 K/BB on the strength of a really nice split-change.

I’m not entirely sure whether Leiter can reject an outright assignment in the event that he clears waivers, but it seems really likely the Cubs end up working out a trade.

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4-time Gold Glove Award winner announces his retirement

A longtime MLB slugger and former World Series champion is calling it a career.

Eric Hosmer announced on Wednesday that he has retired from playing and is venturing into sports media. The 34-year-old has launched a production company called MoonBall Media and will concentrate on his new “Diggin’ Deep Podcast.”

Excited to take on this new challenge, MoonBall Media, and our first project, The Diggin’ Deep Podcast. The playing days are unfortunately over but I’m committed to giving back to the baseball community that helped shaped my life. Episode 1 live now. https://t.co/EjfJjgb5aJ pic.twitter.com/PlcX5h4fXc — Eric Hosmer (@TheRealHos305) February 21, 2024

“Excited to take on this new challenge, MoonBall Media, and our first project, The Diggin’ Deep Podcast. The playing days are unfortunately over but I’m committed to giving back to the baseball community that helped shaped my life. Episode 1 live now,” Hosmer wrote on social media.

Hosmer played 13 MLB seasons. The first baseman spent the first seven years of his career with the Kansas City Royals from 2011-2017, winning a World Series with the team in 2015. He also won four Gold Glove Awards during his time in Kansas City. Hosmer then signed an 8-year, $144 million contract with the San Diego Padres.

Hosmer was with the Padres for four-plus seasons before being traded to the Boston Red Sox midway through the 2022 season. He was designated for assignment a few months later and met the same fate with the Chicago Cubs last year .

Though his production tailed off rapidly over the last two years, Hosmer was a dependable player during his prime. He played in 152 or more games in seven of eight seasons from 2012-2018. Hosmer finishes with a career average of .276 to go along with 198 home runs and 893 RBI.

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