Eric Hosmer is leaving the Kansas City Totals, the franchise that gave him his first opportunity, for the San Diego Padres and $140 million. The contract is reportedly the largest in Padres franchise history.
Sources: Hosmer to #Padres is for 8 years, opt out after 5, front-loaded deal: $20 million each of first 5 years, $13 mil each of last three years, AAV $18 mil.
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) February 18, 2018
Via CBS Sports:
The Padres and free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer have agreed to an eight-year deal with an opt-out clause after the fifth year, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Several outlets are reporting it’s the largest deal in Padres history.
Miller notes that there is also a $5 million signing bonus, making this an eight-year, $144 million deal.
Hosmer, 28, hit .318/.385/.498 with 31 doubles, 25 homers, 94 RBI, 98 runs and six steals last season for the Royals. He’s a four-time Gold Glove winner at first base and, of course, has the championship pedigree — having been a member of two pennant winners and one World Series champion in Kansas City. Beyond any numbers, Hosmer is widely regarded as a great leader and clubhouse presence, something the Padres could really use with such a young and inexperienced team, especially when it comes to winning at the big-league level.
Did Hosmer leave for a better franchise? That could be debated. He did leave for a much better looking area of the country.
For those of you believing Scott Boras had lost it, this deal proves he still has it.
